How to Use the Article “The” in English

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Have you ever wondered why we say the sun but just coffee?

“The” is a small word, but it plays a big role in English! It’s called the definite article, and we use it to talk about specific things — things we already know or can identify.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use “the” naturally with clear examples and easy-to-remember rules.

Definite Article THE

What Is “The”?

“The” is an English definite article used before a noun to show that the noun refers to a specific thing.

Examples:

• the cat (a particular cat we both know)

• the city (a specific city being talked about)

• the book (a certain book, not just any book)

• the sun (there is only one sun)

Compare:

• “The” → for specific things.

• “A” or “An” → for general or unknown things.

👉 Example:

• I saw a cat. (any cat)

• I saw the cat. (a specific cat we already talked about)

When to Use “The”

Rule 1: When something has already been mentioned

Use “the” when a noun has already been introduced earlier in the conversation or text.

Example:

• I saw a cat yesterday. The cat was very cute.

In this example, “the cat” is introduced in the first sentence and referred to using “the” in the following sentences, indicating that we are still referring to the same specific cat that was introduced earlier. This use of “the” helps to maintain continuity and avoid confusion in the conversation or writing.

More examples:

• I bought a phone. The phone is really fast.

• We visited a museum. The museum was amazing.

Rule 2: When both the speaker and listener know what it is

Use “the” when both people understand which thing is being talked about.

Example:

• Can you close the door?

We say the door because both people know which door it is.

More examples:

• Turn off the lights, please.

• I’ll meet you at the station.

Conversation 1:

• Anna: I bought a new car last weekend.
• Sarah 2: Oh really? What kind of car did you buy?
• Anna: The red one.

Conversation 2:

• Peter: I’m going to visit my friend today.
• David: Oh, who are you visiting?
• Peter: The one who lives in the apartment building.

Conversation 3:

• John: I’m reading a good book right now.
• Neo: Oh really? What book are you reading?
• John: The one I told you about last week.

Rule 3: Use “The” with Unique Things (Only One Exists)

We use “the” when referring to something that is one of a kind — something that exists only once in the world or is universally recognized by everyone. In these cases, the noun represents a unique entity, so there’s no need to specify which one; everyone already knows it.

For example:

• The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

• The moon looks bright and beautiful tonight.

• How many people live on the Earth today?

• Look at the sky — it’s so clear and blue!

In all these examples, we use “the” because there is only one sun, one moon, one Earth, and one sky that we all share. These are unique objects in the universe that don’t need further explanation.

Rule 4: Use “The” with Natural Places and Geographical Features

We use “the” before the names of natural places and geographical features such as rivers, oceans, mountains, deserts, and groups of islands. These are usually large, specific, and well-known landmarks that are easily recognized by everyone.

Examples:

• I swam in the ocean during my vacation.

• We hiked in the mountains last weekend.

• The children played at the beach all afternoon.

• There’s a boat floating on the river.

We use “the” here because there is a sense of shared understanding — everyone knows which type of place is being talked about. It’s not any mountain or river; it’s a specific one, either mentioned before or understood from context.

Rule 5: Use “The” with Superlatives and Ordinal Numbers

When describing something as the most, the best, or the first, we use “the” because we are identifying something unique or specific within a group. The same applies when we talk about ordinal numbers — things that have a clear order, such as the first, the second, the last, and so on.

Examples:

• She’s the best student in the class.

• Today is the first day of school.

• That’s the most delicious cake I’ve ever tasted.

We use “the” because these descriptions clearly point to one unique thing — there can only be one best student or first day. In other words, superlatives and order words always describe something at the top or beginning of a scale, making it specific and definite.

Rule 6: Use “The” with Specific Places, Institutions, or Public Buildings

We also use “the” before specific places, institutions, or public buildings that people commonly recognize or refer to. These include places like the bank, the hospital, the cinema, the post office, and the airport.

Examples:

• I need to go to the bank to withdraw some money.

• She’s at the hospital right now visiting her grandmother.

• Let’s go to the cinema tonight to watch a new movie.

We use “the” because these are specific places in the listener’s mind — even if there’s more than one bank or hospital, the context makes it clear which one we mean.

When NOT to Use “The”

Be careful — sometimes you don’t need “the.”

❌ 1. Before general plural or uncountable nouns

Use no article when talking about things in general.

Examples:

• I love music. (not the music)

• Books are expensive. (not the books when speaking generally)

❌ 2. Before names of people, most countries, languages, and streets

Examples:

• Lisa lives in Japan.

• He speaks English.

• They live on Baker Street.

(Note: Some country names do take “the” — e.g., the United States, the Philippines.)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with “the” or (–)

👉 Write “the” where necessary. If no article is needed, write (–).

1. I saw ___ moon shining brightly last night.

2. She’s reading ___ book you gave her yesterday.

3. ___ Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

4. We went to ___ beach to watch the sunset.

5. Have you seen ___ new movie with Tom Cruise?

6. ___ water in this glass is cold.

7. My mother works at ___ hospital in our town.

8. They live near ___ river.

9. ___ love between parents and children is very strong.

10. I don’t like ___ coffee in this café.

Answer:

1. the 2. the 3. (–) 4. the 5. the 6. the 7. the 8. the 9. (–) 10. the

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Article (a / an / the)

👉 Select the correct article for each sentence.

1. She bought ___ umbrella because it was raining.

2. I saw ___ elephant at the zoo yesterday.

3. Can you give me ___ pen on the table?

4. We stayed at ___ hotel near the beach.

5. He is ___ honest man who always tells the truth.

6. I need ___ new pair of shoes for the trip.

7. Lisa lives in ___ apartment on Main Street.

8. ___ sun rises in the east.

9. My brother wants to be ___ engineer.

10. Let’s watch ___ movie we talked about yesterday.

Answer:

1. an
2. an
3. the
4. a
5. an
6. a
7. an
8. the
9. an
10. the

Key Takeaways: How to Use “The”

1. ✅ Use “the” for specific things — when both you and the listener know what you mean.

   Example: Please close the door.

2. 🌍 Use “the” for unique things — only one exists.

   Example: The sun is bright today.

3. 🏙️ Use “the” for familiar places — that people around you already know.

   Example: I’m going to the supermarket.

4. ❌ No “the” for general ideas or plural nouns.

   Example: I love music. (not “the music”)

5. 🎧 Learn by listening. Notice how native speakers use “the” in phrases and copy the pattern.

   Example: Play the guitar, in the morning, at the park.

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• Definite and indefinite articles