The Definite Article: "The"

[hyssop]

The definite article, the, appears as a prefix on nouns or adjectives and consists of the letter: h.

It is voweled in one of the following fashions: ;h, 'h, or ,h.

For example:

a song =	ryiv	a woman =	h'Via
the song =	ryiV;h	the woman =	h'Via'h

Let's look at the following noun and adjective combinations:

A. a good song =	. . . bAj ryiv . . .	= an indefinite phrase
B. the good song =	. . . bAJ;h ryiV;h . . .	= a definite phrase
C. The song is good. =	bAj ryiV;h	= a complete sentence

Notice that the consonants following the definite article in most of the above examples are geminated (have a dagesh/dot). This is the case for all consonants following the definite article, h, with the exception of a, h, x, [, and r.


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