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A musician must practise a great deal.Newspapers can contain valuable information.A newspaper can contain valuable information.Larches are conifers.A larch is a conifer.See Exercises 1 , 2, 3 and 4.b. Referring to something not mentioned beforePlural countable nouns are generally not preceded by a determiner when referring tosomething not mentioned before.e.g. Branches blocked our path.Clouds were gathering overhead.Suddenly we saw buildings in front of us.In these examples, the plural nouns branches, clouds and buildings are not precededby determiners. It is assumed that the branches, clouds and buildings have not beenreferred to previously.c. Naming a professionWhen a sentence such as the following is used to name a profession practised by two ormore people, the name of the profession is in the plural and is not preceded by adeterminer.e.g. They are doctors.My friends are electricians.We were chefs.2. The use of The before plural countable nounsa. Referring to something mentioned beforeIn general, the has the same meaning when used with plural countable nouns as whenused with singular countable nouns. For instance, the is used with plural countablenouns when referring to something which has been mentioned before.e.g. Fallen leaves covered the ground. The leaves rustled as we walked.In the orchard were apples and pears. The apples were nearly ripe.The doors opened, and students and teachers began leaving the building. Thestudents were talking and laughing.In these examples, the first time the words leaves, apples and students appear, theyare not preceded by determiners, because the things referred to have not beenmentioned previously. The second time the words leaves, apples and students appear,they are preceded by the, since the things referred to have already been mentioned.See Exercise 5.b. Referring to something when it is considered obvious what is meant