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More about the

the = ‘you know which one(s)’​

The usually means something like ‘you know which I mean’. We use the before a noun (singular, plural or uncountable) when our listener/reader knows (or can easily see) which particular person(s), thing(s), etc we are talking about. Compare:

  • I’m going to the bank. (The listener knows which: the usual one.)
    Is there a bank near here? (any bank)
  • I didn’t like the film. (the one that the speaker and listener saw)
    Let’s go and see a film. (The speaker doesn’t say which one.)
  • She arrived on the 8.15 train. (The speaker says which train.)
    She arrived in an old taxi. (The speaker doesn’t say which old taxi.)
  • Did you wash the clothes? (The listener knows which clothes.)
    I need to buy clothes. (No one knows exactly which clothes will be bought.)
  • What did you do with the coffee I bought? (The speaker says which coffee.)
    I don’t drink coffee. (any coffee)

Our listener/reader may know which one(s) we mean because:

We have mentioned it/them before​

  • She’s got two children: a boy and a girl. The boy’s fourteen and the girl’s eight.
  • ‘So what did you do then?’ ‘Gave the money right back to the policeman.’ (The listener has already heard about the money and the policeman.)

We say which one(s) we mean​

  • Who are the girls over there with Tom?
  • Tell Amy the story about Jack and Susie.
  • He’s already lost the phone he bought last week.

It is clear from the situation which one(s) we mean​

  • Could you close the door? (Only one door is open.)
  • Anna’s in the kitchen.
  • Did you enjoy the party?
  • I can’t find the car papers.
  • What’s the time?

the = ‘the only one(s) around’​

The listener may know which one we mean because there is no choice – there is only one (e.g. the sun, the moon, the earth, the world, the universe, the future) or there is only one in our part of the world (e.g. the government).

  • I haven’t seen the sun for days.
  • Do you trust the government?
  • People used to think the earth was flat.
  • Do you know the Aldersons? (It is clear to the listener that there can only be one family of that name around.)
  • Go straight over two sets of traffic lights and then turn right after the supermarket. (The listener doesn’t know the supermarket, but has enough information to identify it.)

Superlatives: I’m the oldest.​

We usually use the with superlatives (see here) because there is normally only one best, biggest, etc individual or group (so it is clear which one(s) we are talking about). For the same reason, we usually use the with first, next, last, same and only.

  • I’m the oldest in my family.
  • Can I have the next pancake?
  • We went to the same school.

the meaning ‘the well-known’​

After a name, an identifying expression with the is often used to make it clear that the person referred to is ‘the well-known one’.

  • She married Brad Pitt, the actor.
  • I’d like you to meet Cathy Parker, the novelist.

Possessives and demonstratives​

We do not use the with possessives or demonstratives.

  • This is my uncle. (not … the my uncle.)
  • Is that Emily’s car? (not … the Emily’s car?)
  • I like this beer. (not … the this beer.)

Proper nouns (names)​

We do not usually use the with singular proper nouns (there are some exceptions, (see here).

  • Emily lives in Switzerland. (not The Emily lives in the Switzerland.)

But note the use of the (pronounced /ðiː/) with a person’s name to mean ‘the well-known’.

  • ‘My name’s Emma Watson.’ ‘What, not the Emma Watson?’

Things in general​

We usually use no article, not the, to talk about things in general – the does not mean ‘all’. (For details and exceptions, (see here).)

  • Books are expensive. (not The books are expensive.)
  • Life is hard. (not The life is hard.)

Pronunciation​

The is normally pronounced /ðiː/ before a vowel and /ðə/ before a consonant. Compare:

  • the ice /ðiː aɪs/
  • the snow /ðə snəʊ/

The choice between /ðiː/ and /ðə/ depends on pronunciation, not spelling. We pronounce /ðiː/ before a vowel sound, even if it is written as a consonant.

  • the hour /ðiː ˈaʊə(r)/
  • the MP /ðiː ˌem ˈpiː/

And we pronounce /ðə/ before a consonant sound, even if it is written as a vowel.

  • the university /ðə ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəti/
  • the one-pound coin /ðə ˌwʌn ˌpaʊnd ˈkɔɪn/

We sometimes pronounce a stressed /ðiː/ before a hesitation, or when we want to stress the noun phrase, even if the noun begins with a consonant.

  • He’s the /ðiː/ – just a moment – deputy assistant vice-president.
  • I’ve found the /ðiː/ present for Angela!
note

For the town, the country, the sea, the mountains, etc, (see here).

For on the bus, at the dentist’s, etc, (see here).

For other advanced points, (see here).