What is the Definite Article (the)?
The word the is the only definite article in English. We use it before a noun when both the speaker and the listener know, or can work out, exactly which specific person, thing or place is meant. It signals that the listener can identify the noun.
Compare "I bought a car" (any car, mentioned for the first time) with "The car broke down" (the specific one we both know about). The indefinite article a/an introduces something new or non-specific; the refers back to something already known.
English also uses the zero article (no article at all) for general statements about uncountable nouns and plural nouns. Those rules are compared with the further down this page.
Unlike many European languages, English never changes the for gender, number or case. The same word precedes a singular noun, a plural noun, a countable noun and an uncountable noun.
Ready to practise?
Practice Definite Article (the)
- A2Definite Article: "the" for second mention and unique entities (A2)Multiple choice
- B1Definite Article: "the" with superlatives, ordinals, and geographic names (B1)Gap-fill
Form and Pronunciation
The form is always the, but the pronunciation changes depending on the first sound, not the first letter, of the following word.
the + noun (singular, plural, countable, uncountable)Pronunciation
| Pronunciation | When to use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| /ðə/ (schwa) | Before consonant sounds | the car, the book, the university (starts /j/, a consonant sound) |
| /ði/ (short ee) | Before vowel sounds | the apple, the hour (starts /aʊ/), the end |
| /ðiː/ (long ee, stressed) | For special emphasis | "This is THE restaurant to visit in Paris." |
When to Use the
Second mention: the noun has appeared before
The first time we introduce a noun, we use a/an (indefinite). Every subsequent reference to that same noun uses the, because it is now known to both speaker and listener.
- I saw a woman outside. The woman was carrying a red umbrella.
- We stayed in a hotel near the station. The hotel had a rooftop pool.
- She adopted a dog last year. The dog is now her best companion.
Unique referents: there is only one of something
When something is the only one in existence, we automatically know which one is meant. We use the for these unique objects and concepts, even on first mention.
- The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
- Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969.
- The internet has transformed the world economy.
- The equator divides the earth into two hemispheres.
Superlatives and ordinal numbers
Superlative adjectives (-est, most ..., least ...) and ordinal numbers (first, second, last, next) normally require the. A superlative identifies the single extreme member of a group, so it is unique by definition.
- Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.
- That was the most boring lecture I have ever attended.
- She was the first woman to win this prize twice.
- Take the second turning on the left, then the last door on the right.
Musical instruments
When we talk about playing a musical instrument in general, meaning the skill or the activity, we use the before the instrument name. This rule applies even though we are not referring to any specific instrument.
- She has been playing the piano since she was five.
- He plays the guitar in a jazz band.
- Would you like to learn the violin?
Nationalities and peoples as a group
When we use a nationality adjective to refer to the entire people of a country as a collective group, we use the. These are treated as a unique, definable group.
- The French are renowned for their cuisine and wine.
- The Japanese have one of the world's highest life expectancies.
- The British drive on the left.
Geographical names: specific rules
Geographical names follow a precise set of rules. The key distinction is between names that use the and names that use no article.
- Rivers: the Thames, the Amazon, the Nile, the Rhine.
- Oceans and seas: the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean.
- Mountain ranges: the Alps, the Himalayas, the Andes.
- Countries with plural or descriptive names: the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic.
Contexts That Signal the
The vs Zero Article (no article)
The zero article is used for general statements about categories of things. The moment you specify a particular member of that category, the is required.
the: specific or known
The water in this bottle is cold.
A specific, identified portion of water: the one in this bottle. Both speaker and listener know which water is meant.
zero article: general
Water is essential for life.
Water in general. A universal statement about the substance needs no article.
the: specific group
The lions at the zoo were magnificent.
These specific lions, the ones at a particular zoo. We are not talking about all lions in the world.
zero article: species in general
Lions are dangerous animals.
Lions as a species, a general fact about all lions. Plural nouns in general statements take no article.
the: a place we both know
I'm going to the cinema tonight.
A specific cinema: the one the speaker and listener both have in mind, or the nearest one.
zero article: going there for its purpose
She goes to school every day.
School as an institution or activity, not a specific building. Compare "I drove past the school" (a specific building we both know).
Common Mistakes
Omitting the before unique nouns
✗ Sun is shining today. Also, moon looks beautiful tonight.
✓ The sun is shining today. Also, the moon looks beautiful tonight.
There is only one sun, moon, earth, sky and universe. Whenever a noun refers to something unique in the shared world, use the. This mistake is common among speakers whose first language has no articles, such as Russian, Japanese, Korean or Polish.
Using the with general plural nouns
✗ The dogs are loyal animals. The coffee is good for concentration.
✓ Dogs are loyal animals. Coffee is good for concentration.
When making a general statement about all members of a category or all instances of a substance, use no article. Adding the makes the statement specific: "The dogs (in this house) are loyal" or "The coffee (I ordered) is good."
Adding the before most proper nouns
✗ I visited the London last summer. The France is a beautiful country.
✓ I visited London last summer. France is a beautiful country.
Most cities, countries, continents and individual mountains or lakes take no article: London, Paris, Japan, Africa, Lake Baikal. The exceptions are countries whose names are descriptions, such as the Netherlands (the low lands) and the United Kingdom (a union). Single proper names need no article.
Omitting the before superlatives
✗ She is best student in the class. It was most interesting book I've read.
✓ She is the best student in the class. It was the most interesting book I've read.
A superlative identifies the single extreme member of a set, so the is normally obligatory: there can only be one best, one worst, one tallest. The exception is when a possessive already determines the noun: my best friend, her tallest building.
Using the with institutions (British English)
✗ My son goes to the school by bus.
✓ My son goes to school by bus.
In British English, school, hospital, prison, university and church take no article when we mean them as institutions, that is, attending for their purpose. "He is in hospital" means he is a patient; "He drove past the hospital" refers to the specific building. American English keeps the with hospital, so "She went to the hospital to have her baby" is correct in American English.