I — DEFINI TE ARTICLE

109. (See p. 317, No. 1; p. 297, Nos. 4 and 6; p. 300, No. 22). Besides its literal meaning (the), it expresses the folio wing English équivalents:

(1) The Superlative, when used before a comparative (see p. 301-302, Nos. 27, 30, 31, 32, and 36).

(2) Référence to Calendar, as shown in the folio wing instances: (pp. 307-312, No. 44 (b); 45 (6), (c), (d) last four expressions, No. 46, No. 49, No. 50 (a) last two expr., (b) second expr., No. 52, No. 53 (b) the fîrst two and last expr., No. 54 (c), No. 55 (c) first three expr., and

(3) Periodical répétition, before nouns expressing days of the week, or parts of the day; e.g. :

le samedi (on Saturdays, or every Saturday) le matin (in the morning, or every morning)

(4) Distributive indication as to price, before nouns expressing quantities, weight, or measure; e.g.:

six dollars la paire (six dollars a pair) (p. 150, No. 489, answer) the following idiom, however, expresses the same idea: cinquante sous pièce (fifty cents a pièce) (p. 147, end of third paragraph) (the definite article, in the above expression, has been dropped, because la pièce (meaning room, gun, drama, coin, etc.) would convey a différent meaning altogether, according to what the circumstances would be; pièce, without article, means each, in a pronominal way).

(5) The gênerai noun, e.g. :

les fauteuils ne sont pas faits pour les chiens

(armchairs are not intended for dogs) (p. 106, line 4) la vraie élégance est toujours simple (true élégance is always simple) (p. 160, line 2) Distinction between a gênerai noun and a defînite noun, in French, requires careful considération of the context, e.g. :

les ours sont très occupés (the bears are very busy) (p. 105, third para., second line) DEFINITE; en hiver les ours ont sommeil (in the Win ter bears are sleepy) (p. 105, last line) GENERAL.

(6) Possession, before nouns referring to parts of the body, e.g.:

il se brosse les cheveux et les dents

(he brushes his hair and his teeth) (p. 96, line 7)

les lapins dressaient les oreilles

(the rabbits were pricking up their ears) (p. 136, line 10)

(7) Contrarily to English use, the defînite article is required in French (a) before names of continents, coun tries and provinces; (6) before a title, e.g. :

(à) le Canada se trouve au nord des Etats-Unis

(Canada is situated north of the United States) (p. 121, line 4) (6) la reine Victoria (Queen Victoria) (p. 102, 3rd para., last line)

le docteur Roux (Doctor Roux) (p. 187, first line).