Notes On Definite Article

Question 1

Definite article vs possessive

Answer 1

Definite article used to refer to parts of the body and articles of clothing (rather than possessive)
Eg hast du die Zähne geputzt?

However, a possessive determiner is used if:
The owner has mentioned in the previous sentence, or the body part/item of clothing is first in the sentence.

Or to avoid ambiguity:
Hast du deine Zähne geputzt?

Question 2

Articles with abstract nouns

Answer 2

Articles are used when reference is specific and to a definite known whole.
Eg er fürchtet das Alter

The article isn’t used if referring to a vague/partial/general sense. Generally if you can put ‘some’ or ‘any’ in the sentence without changing the meaning
Eg Bewegung ist gesund (any exercise is healthy)

When used in a phrasal verb, there is no article if used with:
‘Außer’, ‘unter’
Used with gehen, haben, halten or setzen

Question 3

Articles with other groups of nouns

Answer 3

Similar usage with abstract nouns (i.e. Referring to whole/know or partial:vague) for:

Names of substances
Names of meals
Names of sickness/disease
Names of languages

The definite article is always used for:

Historical periods/literary and philosophical movements/religions
Arts and sciences
Institutions/company titles/buildings

Question 4

Articles in generalisations

Answer 4

Generally use the structure

‘Die Tanne ist ein Nadelbaum’ rather than the English ‘Tannen sind Nadelbäume’

Question 5

Articles with proper names

Answer 5

Countries:
Definite article used for feminine countries/regions
Usually used for masculine countries/regions
Not used for neuter names of countries/cities

Other geographical names use article.

Definite article commonly used for street names too.
Eg ich wohne in der Goethe Straße.

No article is used for personal names unless to clarify gender
Eg ich have mit der Rupp gesprochen (i.e. Frau not Herr Rupp)

Or for characters in plays/films
Er hat den Hamlet gespielt

Question 6

Articles with time expressions

Answer 6

Names of months and seasons have definite article

Major festivals (Weihnachten etc) have no article. However der heilige Abend and der Karfreitag do. use articles!

All time nouns are used with definite article after an, bis, zu and in.
‘Am Mittwoch’

Question 7

Miscellaneous use of definite article

Answer 7

Can be use in distributive sense: eg corresponding to English ‘per’
Die Butter kostete 3 Euro das Pfund.

Definite article always used with ‘meist’:
Die meisten Jungen or die meisten meiner Freunde

Question 8

Miscellaneous use of zero article

Answer 8

Article not used with sein, werden or bleiben if used with nouns denoting general professions, nationality, origins or class of people
Eg er ist Arzt, Bäcker or ich bin deutscher, Engländer, Schwede 

But article is used when referring to specific individual: sie is eine bekannte Anwältin

Zero article used for time for months/seasons when referred to in general sense:
Eg es war schon April or jetzt ist Sommer

No article is used in phrases introduced by ‘als’
Eg ‘ich kennte ihn als Junge’