THE DEFINITE ARTICLE: THE
USE
- Nouns (both singular and plural) with a specific meaning or previously mentioned - Example: I saw the cat in the garden.
- … - Example: The moon, the White House.
- Categories of people where an adjective is used as a plural noun - Example: The rich live differently.
- Singular nouns when they represent a class of things / animals - Example: The elephant is a large mammal.
- Nationalities, categories and groups of people or a family - Example: The French are known for their cuisine.
- Rivers, seas, oceans, canals, mountain ranges, island groups, deserts, countries with plural names and those containing the words Kingdom or Republic - Example: The Amazon, the Pacific Ocean, the Alps, the United States.
- … with the verb … - Example: Chris Martin plays the guitar.
- … - Example: The Guardian.
- Decades - Example: The 1980s was a time of great change.
- … - Example: This is the best way to save energy.
ZERO ARTICLE: THE
USE
- Plural and uncountable / abstract nouns - Example: Dogs are loyal animals.
- … and most … - Example: Hamish comes from Edinburgh.
- Days of the week, festivities, years, months, expressions of time - Example: Monday is the start of the workweek.
- Names of meals, materials, colours, sports, school subjects, languages - Example: I study math and English.
- C… , s… , u… , court, prison, bed, home, church, h… when referring to their function and not the physical place, and w… - Example: Sue was in hospital for a week.
- Lakes, single … and …, … and countries - Example: Lake Garda, Mont Blanc, Sicily, Beijing, Spain.
- Means of transport - Example: I take the bus to work.
- Mankind, m… , w… , l… and s… when used with a general meaning - Example: Why does society need rules?
- … - Example: My new car is brown. What about yours?