Yes, "the" can be used with singular and plural nouns. While it is commonly associated with singular nouns, it can also refer to specific plural nouns. Using "the" with plural nouns depends on the context and whether the noun is known or has been previously mentioned. Here are some examples: Specific Plural Nouns: The cats are playing in the garden. The books on the shelf are mine. In these examples, "the" is used before the plural nouns "cats" and "books" to refer to specific groups of cats and books that are known or have been mentioned earlier. General Plural Nouns: Cats are adorable animals. Books are a great source of knowledge. In these cases, when referring to plural nouns in a general sense, the article "the" is not used. It is omitted because the speaker is talking about cats and books broadly, non-specific.