Use of English

The definite article the is the same for all genders in singular and in plural. the boy, the girl, the cat, the computers

If the following word begins with a vowel, we speak [ði] the English girl, if the following word begins with a consonant; we speak [ðə] the girl.

with the definite article

without the definite article

To talk about sth specific, that is, something we have already mentioned before or which is already known

Uncountable and plural countable nouns in general meaning

There is a house on High street. The house is big.

Koalas live in Australia.

With nationalities and family names in the plural

names of persons on the singular, relatives

the French; the Smiths

Anna, aunt Mary

public buildings, institutions, means of transport (definite)

public buildings, institutions, means of transport (indefinite)

The school that Helen goes to is old. The bus to London leaves at 7.40. The round church in Klingenthal is famous.

Helen doesn't like school. I go to school by bus. Some people go to church on Sundays.

names of countries in the plural; mountain ranges; deserts; regions

names of countries in the singular; cities; streets; parks; bridges; squares; stations; islands; lakes; summits of mountains; continents; towns

the United States of America, the Netherlands; the Highlands, the Rocky Mountains, the Alps; the Middle East, the Sahara, the west of Australia

Brazil, London, Oxford Street; but (the High Street); Hyde Park; London Bridge; Leicestor Square; Charing Cross Station; Lake Geneva; Mount Whitney; Europe; Cairo

groups of islands

single islands

the Virgin Islands

Rhodes

name with of-phrase; oceans; seas; rivers

the words this/that/these/those

the Atlantic; the Mediterranean; the Amazon

this boy, those trees

months, days of the week (definite)

months, days of the week (indefinite)

I always remember the Tuesday when I had an accident. The July of 2001 was hot and dry.

The weekend is over on Monday morning. July and August are the most popular months for holidays.

with nouns which are unique

two-word names when the first is the name of a person or place

the sun; the moon; the earth

Heathrow Airport

with the names of musical instruments and dances

names of meals; sport games; months; celebrations; colours drinks and languages when they are not followed by the word language.

the guitar; the waltz

dinner; football; july; Mardy Gras; green; tea. I speak Chinese; but the Chinese language is very difficult to learn.

with the names of museums; hotels; theatres; cinemas newspapers

possessive adjectives or possessive case

the National museum; the Hilton; the royal theatre; the Guardian

That isn’t my book. It’s Tom’s.

with historical periods/events

the Iron age; the second war; but (World War II)

with the words morning/afternoon/evening; station; city; village

in the morning; They drove into the village.

with adjectives used as nouns to refer to a group of people

the poor; the blind; the sick

with only, last, first used as adjectives and with the superlative degree of adjectives/adverbs

He is the most intelligent person I have ever seen. She was the first lady among them.

with titles when the name of the person is not mentioned

the President, the Prince; but (Prince Charles)