"THE"
Do I use that little word or do I let my noun stand alone?
It's the most frequently used word in English and it is called the definite article.
On your journey to definite understanding, make sure you know these two important definitions:
Definite means specific and/or known.
A noun is a person, place, or thing.
So, how do I know when to use it?
Did you know?
"The" is the most frequently used word in English, making up about 5-7% of all words.
Meet "The" Definite Article
"The" is a spotlight.
It shines on specific things both the speaker and the listener know. It lets the listener know that what you're talking about is shared knowledge.
But shared how?
Unique or Specific Things Use "The"
When you're speaking about something that all people know or something that is often noted as special in the world, you use "the."
What is this round object in the picture?
![A setting sun.](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/learning-dev-89518.appspot.com/o/images%2F800%2F77bbcf30-b3ba-11ee-9f0e-976e6568b2f8.jpeg?alt=media&token=526b5984-2132-4a1d-ac13-8788d714c3a0)
If you said "the Sun", then you're correct. Our planet only has one of these. We also have only one moon. But what if you were on this planet...
Could you ask: "Where is the moon?"
"Which one?" would probably be the reply.
Here are some examples of some things that are unique and known to us all:
the Sun
the Moon
the Earth
the sky
the universe
the atmosphere
the world
These words usually use the definite article when we use them in writing or speaking.
Superlative Adjectives
Best, fastest, strongest, tallest, smartest — all of these words with "est" are called "superlatives".
We use "the" with superlative things — the most or the best. We use it like this:
"The" is the most frequent word in the English language.
Rumie is the greatest place to learn things quickly.
This is the best Byte ever written.
Mohammed Ali often called himself "The Greatest of All Time" (aka The GOAT).
![Mount Everest on a sunny day.](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/learning-dev-89518.appspot.com/o/images%2F800%2Fbf258790-b3be-11ee-9f0e-976e6568b2f8.jpeg?alt=media&token=16a500c8-16a9-46b3-b8e2-38bc3745ef2b)
Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. (Remember why we use "the" with "world"? See above.)
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Other Ways to Use "The"
We use "the" before:
musical instruments when used generally 🎶
Example: He plays the piano, the guitar, and the oboe.
certain proper nouns, such as rivers, mountain ranges, and groups of islands ⛰️
Example: I've visited the Nile River, the Andes, and the Philippines.
names of some newspapers and magazines 📰
Example: I read the New York Times and the Atlantic.
singular nouns representing a whole species in a general way 🐋
Example: The cheetah is the fastest animal on earth and the whale is the largest mammal.
historical events or unique situations ⏲️
Example: The COVID epidemic was the most deadly pandemic since the Spanish Flu in the early 1900s.
ordinal (meaning things that are in "order") numbers 🔢
Example: I finished school in the top third of my class and I was the first one in my family to graduate from university.
When NOT to Use "The" (or Any Article)
There are 4 times when you won't use any article at all:
With plural and uncountable nouns in a general way
You wouldn't say: "The dogs are loyal animals," if you are talking about all dogs in general.
You'd say: "Dogs are loyal animals."
![dog in yellow Champion shirt](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/learning-dev-89518.appspot.com/o/images%2F800%2F10750350-b3c4-11ee-9f0e-976e6568b2f8.jpeg?alt=media&token=e94c1eb1-f36d-48e6-a0f5-a2f0569df4e4)
With most job titles when used in general
You wouldn't say: "John is the doctor" if you are talking about his job in general
You'd say: "John is a doctor." ("a" is the indefinite article)
![A doctor posing for a photo.](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/learning-dev-89518.appspot.com/o/images%2F800%2F25af2020-b3c4-11ee-9f0e-976e6568b2f8.jpeg?alt=media&token=9b8088f3-c822-42af-b4a9-8a12bfa01cd7)
With meals, languages, and academic subjects
You wouldn't say: "I had the breakfast," or "I study the English and the Math."
You would say: "I had breakfast," and "I study English and Math."
Before possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, our, their, etc.) when speaking about family members
You wouldn't say: "The my sister is a teacher."
You would say: "My sister is a teacher."
Quiz
Which sentences use "the" correctly?
Take Action
English learners often have difficulty understanding when to use the definite article. Here are some suggestions to help you conquer this sometimes confusing aspect of English language learning:
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