http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/DeterminersArticlesDefinite-Infinite/djbpk/post.htm#295566Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:28:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:295566Dan010http://www.englishforums.com/English/DeterminersArticlesDefinite-Infinite/djbpk/post.htm#295566http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-295566.xmli see. "the social order" is an unique object as it is the specific noun being determined here with a full-stop at the end of it.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DeterminersArticlesDefinite-Infinite/djbpk/post.htm#295564Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:28:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:295564Anonymous1http://www.englishforums.com/English/DeterminersArticlesDefinite-Infinite/djbpk/post.htm#295564http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-295564.xmli see. could you care to explain more of it? thanks.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DeterminersArticlesDefinite-Infinite/djbpk/post.htm#295337Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:28:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:295337Tung Quoc2http://www.englishforums.com/English/DeterminersArticlesDefinite-Infinite/djbpk/post.htm#295337http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-295337.xmlHi, My question: the police is bestowed with powers and laws to maintain social order. In this case, do I use an definite article " the " for the phrase 'social order'? I put the here. Quochttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DeterminersArticlesDefinite-Infinite/djbpk/post.htmWed, 25 Feb 2009 19:28:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:295334Dan013http://www.englishforums.com/English/DeterminersArticlesDefinite-Infinite/djbpk/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-295334.xmlhello! this can be confusing for beginners as to as and when to use "the" (definite) or "a/an" (indefinite) article correctly. in grammar rules, the definite article (the) is used in occasions like stating a unique object, e.g. The moon, The sun and etc. secondly, when the same noun is mentioned again, e.g. a boy meets a girl. in an uncanny coincidence, the boy meets the girl again. while the indefinite article (a/an) is mainly used in cases like indicating the concept of 'one' or 'everyone'. my question: the police is bestowed with powers and laws to maintain social order. in this case, do i use an indefinite article " the " for the phrase 'social order'? thank you.