Here's why:
* Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas (e.g., dog, house, freedom).
* Pronouns are words that replace nouns (e.g., he, she, it, they).
* Articles (definite and indefinite) are words that come before nouns to specify whether the noun is singular or plural and whether it's specific or general.
"The" is a definite article, meaning it refers to a specific noun already known or understood in context.
For example:
* The dog barked. ("The" refers to a specific dog, likely one already mentioned or understood).
* I saw the cat. ("The" refers to a specific cat, likely one already mentioned or understood).