2. The definite article THE is used:
• with countable and uncountable nouns in
singular and plural forms.
• The music, the man, the cakes
when the noun is known or mentioned for
a second time.
(we can answer WHO? or WHICH?)
I translated a text. The text was difficult.
• with unique nouns or when there is only
one of the things we are talking about.
The sun, the Earth, the moon, the
President, the government, the environment
3. • with the names of musical instruments
and dances.
The piano, the tango, the clarinet
• we do not use THE with sports.
Tennis, football, golf
• with adjectives/adverbs in the superlative
form.
English is the most pleasant
language I’ve ever heard.
• with the words only, last, first (used as
adjectives).
She is the only woman I trust.
4. • with historical periods or events.
The Middle Ages, the Second World War
(World War II)
• with the words morning, afternoon and
evening.
In the morning
• with nationality words and names of
families.
The Ukrainians, the Johnsons
• with titles when the name is not
mentioned.
The Queen (but Queen Mary)
5. • with the words station, shop, cinema, pub,
library, city, village, theatre, newspaper, police,
etc.
I read about the accident in the newspaper.
The police came to the station.
• a phrase with of usually takes THE.
A book on Ukrainian history
A book on the history of Ukraine
• The + a singular noun (an animal or invention,
discovery) to make general statements about
them.
The tiger can swim (all tigers). Who invented the
camera?
7. General
• Zero article is used when a plural or
uncountable noun has a general
meaning.
Flats are expensive to buy.
Dolphins are intelligent mammals.
Tom is studying music (all music in general).
8. Specific
• THE + a plural or uncountable noun has a
specific meaning.
The flats are really expensive in Kyiv.
We saw the dolphins at the zoo.
Tom is playing the music now. (the music of
a specific style, at a specific time, a song).
10. Compare the situations:
• The man went to prison two years ago.
(he is a prisoner)
• The woman went to the prison to visit her
husband.
ALSO: School, college, university, hospital,
church, jail
BUT: the cinema, the factory, the house,
the station, the pub, the office, the shop
(buildings)
12. • Most are without THE:
Africa, England. Florida, Rhode Island
• Countries with republic and kingdom have
THE:
The Irish Republic, the United Kingdom
(the UK)
• Plural names also have THE:
The Netherlands, the USA, the Canary
Islands
15. …
• Hills and mountains do not take THE:
Everest, North Hill
16. Lakes
• Lakes are used
without THE
Lake Michigan,
Lake Ontario
• The
Mediterranean
(Sea), the
Atlantic
(Ocean), the
(River)
Thames, the
Suez Canal
Oceans, seas, rivers,
canals
