1.162 The specific way: using 'the'

'The' is the commonest specific determiner; it is sometimes called the definite article.

'This', 'that', 'these', and 'those' are often called demonstratives or demonstrative adjectives. For more information on these, see paragraphs 1.182 to 1.191.

'My', 'your', 'his', 'her', 'its', 'our' and 'their' are possessive determiners. They are also sometimes called possessive adjectives or just possessives. For more information about these, see paragraphs 1.192 to 1.207.

Here is the list of specific determiners:

Note that in English you cannot use more than one specific determiner before a noun.

1.163

Because 'the' is the commonest specific determiner, you can put 'the' in front of any common noun.

In these examples, the use of 'the can' means that a can has already been mentioned; 'the grass' is probably definite because it has already been stated that 'she' is outside, and the presence of grass may also have been stated or is presumed; 'the girls', like 'the can', must have been mentioned before, and 'the house' means the one where the girls were staying at the time.