1.176 adding qualifiers

Another way of indicating who or what you are referring to is by adding a qualifier after 'the' and a noun, for example a prepositional phrase, a relative clause, a 'to'-infinitive, an adverb of place or time, or a phrase introduced by a participle.

So you might refer to particular people at a party by using noun groups such as 'the girl in the yellow dress', 'the woman who spilled her drink', or 'the man smoking a cigar'.

• There is disorder among the papers on his desk.
• The book that I recommend now costs over three pounds.
• The thing to aim for is an office of your own.
• Who made the bed in the room upstairs?
• It depends on the person being interviewed.

For more information about qualifiers, see paragraphs 2.289 to 2.320.