This document provides rules for using the definite article "the" in English. It discusses using "the" with places, things and people, as well as some other rules. Specifically: - "The" is used when referring to a specific place a person does not belong to, and without "the" when referring to a place a person belongs to. - "The" is used to refer to specific things or people, while its omission refers to things or people in general. - Other rules include using "the" with adjectives to refer to groups of people, with nationalities to refer to people of that country, and before a singular countable noun to indicate a type.

1. Article ‘THE’
Places
Things and people
Other rules

2. PLACES
THE
The person doesn’t belong to the
place.
●
Claudia’s mother went to the school
to speak to his daughter’s teacher.
(the mother is not a student)
●
Ken went to the prision to visit his
brother. (ken isn’t a prisioner, it’s a
visitor)
●
Dan is a student at the college where
I used to work.
●
Some workmen went to the church to
repair the roof.
●
Who is the youngest student in the
class?
THE
The person belongs to the place
●
Claudia goes to school.
●
Ken’s brother is in prision for robbery.
●
When I finish high school, I want to
go to college.
●
Mrs. Kelly goes to church every
Sunday.
●
I was in class for five hours today.

3. THINGS AND PEOPLE
THE
When we mean specific things
or people
●
We took the children to the zoo
●
The movie wasn’t very good,
but I liked the music.
●
All the cars in this parking lot
belong to people who work
here.
●
Can you pass the sugar,
please?
●
Do the Americans you know
drink tea? (= only the
Americans you know)
THE
When we talk about general things or
people
●
Children learn from playing.
●
I couldn’t live without music
●
All cars have wheels
●
Sugar isn’t very good for you.
●
Do Americans drink much tea?
●
I’m afraid of dogs
●
Doctors are paid more than teachers
* Sometimes the difference is not always clear

4. OTHER RULES
●
The + adjective → to talk about groups of people
●
Do you think the rich should pay higher taxes?
●
The + nationality → to mean the people of that country
●
The French are famous for their food
●
The + singular countable noun → a type of something
●
Can you play the guitar?
●
The giraffe is the tallest of all animals.
●
Man = human beings in general / human race → without THE
●
What do you know about the origins of man?