Used with:

+) singular countable nouns

+) plural countable nouns
THE + nouns that are always singular
+) uncountable nouns
-> A man is coming to fix the television. Something which is considered there is only one in
. existence (unique)
Used to talk about a specific example of something which (we -> the sun, the moon, the government, etc.
think) is known to both ourselves and the listener/ reader. .
->.The cars were parked illegally in the city center. Superlatives
-> He's the best accountant in town.

BASIC USES
With singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns, uncountable
nouns
Known persons/ things
-> They have a daughter and a son. The boy is a student and the
THE + adj -> personal noun
girl is...
-> The unemployed are calling for more government
Uniqueness DEFINITE (THE)
spending.
-> The earth is not a safe place to live anymore.
-> The British are said to be very unfriendly.
General sense
.
+) THE + noun referring to animals and plants
THE + adj -> abstract noun
+) THE + adj
-> Out with the old, bring in the new.
+) THE + nationality
-> The unknown is often very frightening.
+) THE + musical instrument

ZERO + plural = A/ THE + singular (as Subject) Used with:

-> Nouns of animals and plants with a general +) uncountable nouns
meaning +) plural countable nouns
. ARTICLES .
-> Seagulls are found close to the coast. SPECIAL USES ZERO Used to talk about things generally, not an
-> A/ The seagulls is a large white and grey individual item or example
bird. INDEFINITE -> Money doesn't necessarily bring happiness.
-> Students never like tests.

PARTS OF THE BODY

When the noun is related to the OBJECT of the
A/AN
sentence (or SUBJECT in passive) -> THE
-> The bird was shot in the wing. Used with singular countable nouns only
-> I looked at him straight in the eye. .
. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Used to talk about one of something which we assumed
When the noun is related to the SUBJECT of the +) About instruments generically the listener/ reader doesn't know which specific thing
sentence -> POSSESSIVES -> The horn is one of the most difficult -> A car drove past.
-> The seagull had hurt its wing. orchestral instruments to play. With singular countable nouns
. Unknown persons/ things
+) About bands, orchestras, recordings, etc. -> She has a car.
-> I used to play trumpet in my school What somebody/ something is
orchestra. -> I'm an engineer.
. Anyone/ anything
-> A vegetarian doesn't eat meat.
SCIENTIFIC INVENTIONS
+) It would be difficult to imagine life without
the telephone.
+) It would be difficult these days to live life
without video/ email.