| 1. Sounds |
The definite article is THE.
It is used for singular and plural.
The pronunciation differs before a vowel or consonant.
The difference depends on the sound of the vowels and consonants, not the spelling. |
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| 2. Examples |
THE / ð¶ /
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THE / ði: /
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a teacher
a peach
a woman
a house
a man
a useful book
a university
a European |
an English teacher
an orange
an old woman
an hour
an honest man
an heir
an honour
an Irish person |
Explanation of the symbols: these symbols help you to use the correct pronunciation.
/ ð¶ / You pronounce / ð / it like th in these. You pronounce the / ¶ / like e in answer
/ ði: / You pronounce / ð / it like th in these. You pronounce the / i: / like ee in see |
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| 3. Use |
THE is used before names of instruments:
I play the piano.
My sisters play the violin.
My teacher plays the guitar. |
Don't put THE before names of meals, except when we talk about a particular meal:
Dinner is served.
What time do you have lunch.
BUT: The dinner we had yesterday was delicious. |
Don't put THE before names of seasons, except when we talk about a particular season:
We have a long holiday in summer.
Flowers bloom in spring.
BUT: The winter of 1966 was the coldest in history. |
No THE before names of mountains:
Mount Everest is 8,862 metres high.
We stood on top of Etna. |
No THE before abstract nouns used in general use:
I love nature.
Life is short. |