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according to this article (Use 15), it's against the rule to use an article 'the' before a plural countable noun (e.g. pictures, flowers, horses etc.)

sentence: I've just sent you the pictures

In case if I can use it sometimes, please describe me the cases when I can use article 'the' with plural countable noun

Thank you in advance

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  • 2
    That's not what it says. It says you shouldn't use articles when generalizing about uncountable nouns and you shouldn't use articles when generalizing about plural countable nouns. – userr2684291 Mar 22 '17 at 21:31
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When you want to make a general statement about something, and the noun is countable, you don't use the article:

Horses have hooves.

The above means "All horses".

If you use the article, you're not referring to all horses, but to specific horses:

The horses have been training in a simulated high altitude environment with low oxygen, to improve their lung capacity for the big race.

If you say:

The horses have hooves.

someone might reply, "Of course they do! All horses have hooves".

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  • Yes, when we are talking about the whole generation of something we use the (e.g., The dog is a faithful animal). – Diamalik Oct 29 at 14:13

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