Unique adjectives

There are some other adjectives which, like superlative adjectives, are used to identify unique things, and so the definite article is used before them.

They even use the same lawyers.

The next attack took place four hours later.

He was the only doctor I knew.

I began the last section of the book.

Pour the right amount into each bottle.

Here is a list of adjectives which are used in this way:

first following

last main

next only

opposite present

principal right

same sole

ultimate usual

wrong

This is not a rule, only a strong tendency; the indefinite article sometimes occurs with them (except with 'next', 'following', and 'same').

He paid a last visit to America.

The answer is not to ignore a first child.

The indefinite article can be used before 'only' when it is used in the expressions 'only child', 'only son', and 'only daughter'. I was an only child.

Note 1 The definite article is often used with 'wrong' even when it does not make sense to talk about only one wrong possibility.

If he gives the wrong answer the machine stops.

We are all in the wrong business.

In these cases there is possibly more than one wrong answer or business. However, there are some cases where the indefinite article is used.

We've taken a wrong turn.

Note 2 'Same' often appears without a following noun; 'first' and 'last' often occur followed by an 'of'-phrase, rather than a noun.

The same is true for men.

It was the first of many adjustments we had to make in our lifestyle.

The last of the official engagements was the pre-tour dinner.

Note 3 'Next' and 'last' are commonly used in time expressions without the (for example, 'next week'). We’re going to Sweden next week.

Note 4 The ordinal numbers 'second', 'third', and so on occur with the indefinite article more often than 'first'.

Now, it seemed, there might be a third choice.