The
From Creolista!
definite article
two pronunciations: ðə before a consonant, and ði before a vowel.
The sound ð is often deictic. That means it points to something in the world (or something that's been pointed out earlier in the course of discussion). (digit - doigt - deixis)
e.g. there, them, they, then, this, that, thus, therefore, these, those, thither, whither, etc.
definite determiner
Another way of saying 'definite article', which I personally find more useful. People use determiners to determine just what exactly they are talking about:
- his cat (possessive determiner)
- a stray cat (indefinite determiner)
- any cat
- all cats
- no cats
- that fat cat
- these kittens
- those mice
- them (nb: not a determiner, as such, though personal object pronouns do allow you to determine who or what you are talking about)
correlative construction
- The more, the merrier...
- The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
- The greater the risk, the greater the gain.
- The longer you wait, the worse it gets.
- The less said, the better.
- The more we talked, the more I began to understand her point of view.
- "What big eyes you have, grandmother!"
- "The better to see you with, my dear."