Articles Pt. 2

Grammar Explanations

TL;DR - Key Takeaways Quick overview before you read
  • Use "the" when both speaker and listener know which specific thing you mean, like second mentions (I saw a dog. The dog was big) or things obvious from context (Close the door)
  • Use "the" with unique things (the sun, the moon), superlatives (the best, the biggest), and ordinal numbers (the first, the second)
  • Use "the" with musical instruments when speaking generally (I play the piano), parts of the day (in the morning), and decades (in the 1990s)
  • For geography, use "the" with oceans/seas, rivers, mountain ranges, and countries with words like "States" or "Kingdom", but not with individual mountains, continents, most countries, or cities
  • Pronounce "the" as /ðə/ before consonant sounds (the cat) and /ði/ before vowel sounds (the apple)

Articles in English: Part 2 of 3

This is Part 2 of our 3-part guide to English articles.

In this part, you'll learn how to use the.

Haven’t done Part 1 yet? Start here first: Part 1: What Articles Are + A/An

When you finish this page, continue with Part 3: Zero Article, Common Mistakes and Practice.

The - Definite Article

The means “this specific one”. We use it when both the speaker and the listener know which thing we mean.

When to Use "The"

1. Second mention - something already mentioned:

  • I saw a dog in the park. The dog was big.
  • She bought a car. The car is red.

2. Unique things - there is only one:

  • the sun, the moon, the Earth, the sky, the world
  • the president
  • the capital

3. Obvious from context:

  • Close the door.
  • I’m going to the bank.
  • What’s the time?
  • Can you pass the salt?

4. Superlatives:

  • the best, the biggest, the most expensive
  • She’s the tallest person in the class.
  • This is the most beautiful city I’ve visited.

5. Ordinal numbers:

  • the first, the second, the third, the last
  • It’s the first time I’ve been here.
  • She lives on the second floor.

6. Only / same:

  • She’s the only person who knows.
  • We have the same book.

7. Musical instruments (when speaking generally):

  • I play the piano.
  • She plays the guitar.
  • He learned the violin.

8. Parts of the day:

  • in the morning
  • in the afternoon
  • in the evening
  • Exception: at night

9. Decades:

  • in the 1990s
  • in the sixties

10. Newspapers and organisations:

  • the New York Times
  • the United Nations
  • the BBC

11. Family names in the plural:

  • the Smiths
  • the Johnsons

Geography: When Do We Use "The"?

Use "the" with:

  • Oceans and seas: the Pacific Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea
  • Rivers: the Thames, the Nile
  • Mountain ranges: the Alps, the Himalayas
  • Deserts: the Sahara
  • Groups of islands: the Canary Islands
  • Countries with words like States, Kingdom or Republic: the United States, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic

Do NOT usually use "the" with:

  • Mount Everest
  • Europe, Asia, Africa
  • Germany, France, Japan
  • Berlin, Paris, Tokyo
  • Main Street
  • Lake Michigan
  • Bali, Sicily

Pronunciation of "The"

Before consonant sounds: /ðə/

  • the cat
  • the dog

Before vowel sounds: /ði/

  • the apple
  • the hour

Need a quick recap of a/an first? Go back to Part 1.

Ready for the final part? Continue to Part 3: Zero Article, Common Mistakes and Practice.

Part of the LearnFast.life Grammar Series

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