Editing Language/English/Grammar/THE:-use-it-or-not
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
| Latest revision | Your text | ||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
__TOC__ | __TOC__ | ||
==We use THE== | ==We use THE== | ||
*THE is used in front of singular or plural nouns, when we talk about things that people know. Make yourself comfortable, sit in the armchair ! | *THE is used in front of singular or plural nouns, when we talk about things that people know. Make yourself comfortable, sit in the armchair ! (we know which armchair we're talking about!) | ||
*THE is used when referring to public places, in general, or to buildings rather than institutions. Let's meet at the cinema (we are in front of the cinema, but we do not go to cinema) | |||
*THE is used when referring to public places, in general, or to buildings rather than institutions. | |||
*THE is used in certain geographical areas: a group of states (the United States), islands (the Bahamas), seas (the Atlantic), rivers (the Thames), mountains (the Alps) | *THE is used in certain geographical areas: a group of states (the United States), islands (the Bahamas), seas (the Atlantic), rivers (the Thames), mountains (the Alps) | ||
*THE is used to speak, in general, of groups of people (the poor), of nationalities (the Germans), of musical instruments (I play the guitar). | *THE is used to speak, in general, of groups of people (the poor), of nationalities (the Germans), of musical instruments (I play the guitar). | ||
| Line 11: | Line 9: | ||
==We do not use THE== | ==We do not use THE== | ||
*THE is not used in front of the plural and uncountable nouns when one speaks about people, abstract ideas or things in general. | *THE is not used in front of the plural and uncountable nouns when one speaks about people, abstract ideas or things in general. Women are more careful than men. | ||
*THE is not used when referring to public places, as institutions and not as buildings. Jane is in hospital. Julia is at school. | |||
*THE is not used when referring to public places, as institutions and not as buildings. | |||
*No THE article in front of countries (China, France) continents (Asia, Africa) cities, regions (London, Sussex) | *No THE article in front of countries (China, France) continents (Asia, Africa) cities, regions (London, Sussex) | ||
*Finally, no article THE either when referring to parts of the body (he's got big hands) transport (I'll go by car), meals (Have you had lunch?), Seasons and some expressions of time (I love summer - The park closed at night) | *Finally, no article THE either when referring to parts of the body (he's got big hands) transport (I'll go by car), meals (Have you had lunch?), Seasons and some expressions of time (I love summer - The park closed at night) | ||