Definite Article
The
The
Beginner
CEFR levels A1 (Breakthrough) and A2 (Waystage)
CEFR levels A1 (Breakthrough) and A2 (Waystage)
the is pronounced /ðǝ/ when the pronunciation of the next word starts with a consonant
(b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n , p, q, r, s, t, v, w)
the book
the car
the house
the computer
the hobby
the uniform
the university
the one-man show
the one-armed bandit
(b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n , p, q, r, s, t, v, w)
the book
the car
the house
the computer
the hobby
the uniform
the university
the one-man show
the one-armed bandit
the is pronounced /ði:/ when the pronunciation of the next word starts with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u)
the egg
the umbrella
the oven
the apple
the inch
the hour
the honest girl
the MP
the egg
the umbrella
the oven
the apple
the inch
the hour
the honest girl
the MP
The definite article can be used before singular and plural nouns, both countable and uncountable.
It is used:
- Before things which we have mentioned before and when it’s clear from the context who or what we are referring to.
He’s talking about a new film. The film he’s referring to is about a young wizard called Harry Potter.
This is the girl I was talking about.
The child we saw in the park yesterday.
- with things that are unique, i.e. there is only one of them.
The sun is shining brightly.
The CEO of our company is a very intelligent woman.
- in comparisons before the superlative form.
He is the best historian I know.
She is the eldest of my sisters.
Intermediate
CEFR levels B1 (Threshold) and B2 (Vantage)
CEFR levels B1 (Threshold) and B2 (Vantage)
The definite article is also used:
with adjectives that refer to groups:
the rich, the blind, the poor, the young, the elderly
The Americans have always lived this way.
The Chinese have always been a hard-working people.
The United Kingdom
But: Ben Nevis (not: the Ben Nevis)
Lake Minnesota
Westminster Abbey
at / on the recommendation of
at the request of
on the basis of
at the suggestion of
at the expense of
on the initiative of
on the occasion of
under / on the pretext of
in the presence of
in the absence of
in the name of
to the surprise of
to the satisfaction of
with the exception of
with the support of
with the help / aid / assistance of
with the cooperation of
run the risk of
raise the alarm
put to the vote
be / become the fashion
join the army
The definite article is not used:
with adjectives that refer to groups:
the rich, the blind, the poor, the young, the elderly
- with nationalities.
The Americans have always lived this way.
The Chinese have always been a hard-working people.
- with ordinal numbers when used as adjectives.
- with names of countries that include these words:
The United Kingdom
- with names of rivers, mountain ranges, seas and oceans.
But: Ben Nevis (not: the Ben Nevis)
Lake Minnesota
Westminster Abbey
- In certain expressions:
at / on the recommendation of
at the request of
on the basis of
at the suggestion of
at the expense of
on the initiative of
on the occasion of
under / on the pretext of
in the presence of
in the absence of
in the name of
to the surprise of
to the satisfaction of
with the exception of
with the support of
with the help / aid / assistance of
with the cooperation of
run the risk of
raise the alarm
put to the vote
be / become the fashion
join the army
The definite article is not used:
- when the following noun is used in a general sense.
Prices have risen very sharply.
People are not so easily worried.
I love music/life/science.
Nowadays, there is a lot of violence.
It’s not so easy to teach young children.
In winter these birds migrate.
But: the definite article may be used with seasons used in a general sense, so this is
also possible: In the winter these birds migrate.
When the noun is used in a specific sense, we do use the definite article:
The young children I taught last year were wonderful.
The life I led when I lived there was unbelievable.
In so-called half-general combinations, we do not use the definite article:
German literature is very different from British literature.
Compare: I didn’t like the German literature I read at school. - before the words school, college, university, church, hospital, prison and town when the use of these buildings is referred to.
School starts at 9 o’clock.
They go to church every Sunday.
The little child was taken to hospital.
When the building is referred to, we do use the definite article:
The post office is opposite the hospital. - before names of meals.
Breakfast is between 6.30 and 8.00 a.m. daily.
They expect you to have dinner in the hotel restaurant.
When a specific meal is referred to, we do use the definite article:
The breakfast we had here yesterday did not live up to our expectations. - before names of means of transport when these words are preceded by ‘by’.
He always goes by bus.
They travelled to Italy by plane. - before names of musical instruments
He plays the piano beautifully. - before names of languages.
Can you repeat that in English, please?
The man was talking in French very rapidly. - before ‘most’ and ‘half’ when the meaning is: ‘the greater part of’
before ‘last’ when it means ‘immediately before the present one’
before ‘next’ when it refers to time
Most of his friends had already left.
We painted that handrail last month.
We’ll do that exercise next time. - Before a superlative when it follows a copula or when it is used as an adverbial.
The light is brightest at noon. (not: the brightest)
Father knows best. (not: the best) - in certain fixed expressions.
in / to bed
at / to work
at home
at daybreak / at dawn
catch sight of / lose sight of
dressed in black
learn by heart
to lose patience
declare war on
shake hands with a person
in practice
be at stake