Please, learn the rules! When do we use “THE” in English? (+ when DON’T we?)

Summary

In this English with Lucy lesson, Lucy comprehensively covers the use of the definite article 'the' in English. She outlines 17 situations where 'the' is used and seven where it's omitted, clarifying pronunciation nuances and providing examples. Lucy also offers a free PDF with lesson notes and exercises for practice, accessible via a link in the video description. The lesson is designed to help students master the use of 'the' through detailed rules and exceptions, making it an invaluable resource for English learners.

Takeaways

• 📘 The video is an English lesson focused on the proper use of the definite article 'the'.
• 🗣️ Two pronunciations of 'the' are taught: 'the' for words starting with a consonant sound and 'the' for words starting with a vowel sound.
• 🏛️ 'The' is used before nouns that have been previously mentioned or are known to the listener.
• 🌐 'The' is utilized with specific nouns, often with a qualifier, and for unique nouns that are the only one of their kind.
• 📈 It's used before superlative adjectives and adverbs, and with clauses and noun phrases introduced by 'only'.
• 🌍 'The' is applied to plural country names ending in 's', and country names containing 'Republic', 'Kingdom', 'Union', or 'State'.
• 🧭 'The' is placed before compass directions when referring to specific regions, and geographical locations.
• 🏙️ It's used with certain geographical features like oceans, seas, rivers, mountain ranges, and deserts.
• 🏰 'The' precedes famous buildings, well-known works of art, and adjectives referring to specific groups of people.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 'The' is used before family names when referring to a group, specific times, and time periods.
• 🏢 'The' is employed with organizations, hotels, restaurants, pubs, and newspapers, with exceptions for names starting with a name or certain acronyms.
• ❌ 'The' is not used with general plural countable and uncountable nouns, names of people, holidays, companies, universities, cities, towns, states, streets, lakes, single mountains, and continents.
• ✏️ The lesson emphasizes exceptions to the rules, highlighting the complexity of article usage in English.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video by English with Lucy?

The main focus of the video is to cover the proper usage of the definite article 'the' in English, including 17 situations where it is used and seven where it is not.

How many ways are there to pronounce the word 'the' according to the video?

There are two ways to pronounce the word 'the': one with the schwa sound ('the') used before words starting with a consonant sound, and the other with a different pronunciation ('the') used before words starting with a vowel sound or for emphasis.

What is the significance of the word 'the' in the English language as explained in the video?

The word 'the' is the most used word in the English language and serves as the definite article, used to refer to specific nouns that are known to the reader or listener.

Can you provide an example of using 'the' with a superlative adjective from the video?

Yes, an example given is 'We had the best time yesterday.', where 'the' is used before the superlative adjective 'best'.

When is 'the' used before country names that include 'Republic', 'Kingdom', 'Union', or 'State'?

The video explains that 'the' is used before country names that include 'Republic', 'Kingdom', 'Union', or 'State', such as 'the Dominican Republic' or 'the United States'.

What is an example of using 'the' with ordinal numbers as qualifiers?

An example provided is 'this is the second time she's been late', where 'the' is used with the ordinal number 'second' as a qualifier.

Why might native speakers sometimes incorrectly use 'the' before a consonant sound?

Native speakers might incorrectly use 'the' before a consonant sound because it's more comfortable to say 'the' with the mouth slightly shut rather than with the mouth open.

In what situations is 'the' not used according to the video?

The video lists several situations where 'the' is not used, including with general plural countable and uncountable nouns, names of people, holidays, companies, universities, cities, towns, states, streets, lakes, single mountains, and continents.

What is an example of using 'the' with a specific time mentioned in the video?

An example is 'We will celebrate Leo's birthday on the 25th.', where 'the' is used before the specific time '25th'.

How can viewers access the free PDF created by Lucy to accompany the lesson?

Viewers can access the free PDF by clicking on the link in the description box, entering their first name and email address.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to the Definite Article 'The'

In the first paragraph, Lucy introduces a lesson on the proper use of the English definite article 'the'. She outlines the lesson's structure, which includes 17 situations where 'the' is used and seven where it is not. Lucy emphasizes the importance of correct pronunciation, explaining two pronunciations of 'the' depending on whether the following word starts with a consonant or vowel sound. She also mentions a common mistake made by native speakers when using 'the' before consonant sounds. To aid learning, Lucy provides a free PDF with lesson notes and exercises, accessible via a link in the video description.

05:01

🗺️ When to Use 'The' with Geographical and Specific Terms

The second paragraph delves into specific scenarios where 'the' is used, particularly with superlative adjectives, clauses introduced by 'only', plural country names ending in 's', and country names with 'Republic', 'Kingdom', 'Union', or 'State'. Lucy also covers the use of 'the' with ordinal numbers, compass directions when referring to specific regions, and geographical locations. The paragraph further explains the use of 'the' with famous buildings, works of art, specific groups of people, family names as groups, specific times, time periods, general categories of nouns, organizations, accommodations like hotels, and newspapers. Lucy concludes with a brief mention of exceptions to these rules.

10:02

🚫 When to Omit 'The' with Names, General Nouns, and Certain Locations

In the final paragraph, Lucy discusses instances where 'the' is not used, such as with general plural countable and uncountable nouns, names of people, holidays, companies, universities (unless the name starts with 'university'), most country names, cities, towns, states, streets, lakes, single mountains, and continents. She also mentions that 'the' is generally not used with academic subjects, sports, languages, or nationalities, except when specifying the language itself. Lucy provides additional examples of places like 'home', 'work', 'school', 'university', 'church', and 'hospital' in British English, where 'the' is typically omitted. The paragraph concludes with an invitation to access the lesson's PDF for further study and to connect with Lucy on social media for more English learning resources.

Keywords

💡Definite Article

The definite article 'the' is a key concept in English grammar, used to refer to a specific item or items already known to the listener or reader. In the video, Lucy explains its usage in various contexts, emphasizing its importance as the most frequently used word in the English language. For example, she uses 'the' to refer to specific nouns like 'the sofa' and 'the broken table,' indicating that these are particular items already being discussed or are unique.

💡Pronunciation

Pronunciation is the way in which a word or language is articulated when spoken. In the script, Lucy discusses two pronunciations of 'the': 'the' with a schwa sound, used before words starting with a consonant sound, and 'the' with a different intonation, used before words starting with a vowel sound or for emphasis. Correct pronunciation is crucial for clear communication, and Lucy stresses the importance of learning it correctly from the start.

💡Schwa Sound

The schwa sound is a mid-central, unstressed vowel sound represented by the symbol /ə/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet. It is the most common vowel sound in English. Lucy mentions the schwa sound when explaining the first pronunciation of 'the,' which is 'the, the,' and is used before words starting with a consonant sound, such as in 'the church' or 'the trailer.'

💡Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs

Superlative adjectives and adverbs are used to indicate the highest degree of a quality among three or more people or things. In the video, Lucy explains that 'the' is used before superlatives, as in 'the best time' and 'the slowest taxi,' to specify the most extreme example within a group.

💡Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are words that indicate position or order in a sequence, such as 'first,' 'second,' or 'third.' Lucy points out that 'the' is used with ordinal numbers when they function as qualifiers, as in 'the second time' or 'the fifth doctor,' to specify a particular order or occurrence.

💡Geographical Locations

Geographical locations refer to specific places on Earth. The script mentions that 'the' is used before certain geographical features like oceans, seas, rivers, and mountain ranges, such as 'the Pacific Ocean' or 'the River Nile,' to denote specific, known natural features.

💡Famous Buildings and Works of Art

Famous buildings and works of art are well-known landmarks and creations. Lucy explains that 'the' is used before the names of famous buildings and works of art to specify particular, renowned entities, such as 'the Eiffel Tower' or 'the Mona Lisa.'

💡Specific Groups of People

Specific groups of people refer to particular categories or communities within society. The video script includes examples like 'the rich' and 'the Spanish,' where 'the' is used to denote a particular group known to the listener or reader.

💡Family Names as Groups

When referring to a family as a collective unit, 'the' is used before the family name. Lucy gives examples like 'the McAllisters' and 'the Smiths,' indicating that the entire family is being referred to as a group.

💡Time Periods

Time periods are spans of time, often historical or cultural. The script mentions using 'the' with time periods, such as 'the 1800s' or 'the 16th century,' to specify particular eras or centuries.

💡Acronyms and Initialisms

Acronyms are formed from the initial letters of words, pronounced as a word, like NATO. Initialisms are also formed from initial letters but are pronounced letter by letter, like FBI. Lucy clarifies that 'the' is not used with acronyms but is used with initialisms when the pronunciation starts with a vowel sound, as in 'the FBI.'

Highlights

Introduction to the lesson on the proper use of the definite article 'the'.

Explanation of the two pronunciations of 'the' and when to use each.

Common mistakes made by native speakers regarding the pronunciation of 'the'.

The importance of correct pronunciation to avoid hard-to-unlearn habits.

The role of 'the' as the most used word in the English language and a definite article.

Basic rules for using 'the' with nouns that have been previously mentioned or are specific.

Use of 'the' with both countable and uncountable nouns.

Detailed rules for using 'the' before superlative adjectives and adverbs.

The use of 'the' with clauses and noun phrases introduced by 'only'.

Application of 'the' before plural country names typically ending in 's'.

Utilization of 'the' with country names that include terms like Republic, Kingdom, Union, or State.

The necessity of 'the' before ordinal numbers used as qualifiers.

How to use 'the' when referring to specific compass directions and geographical locations.

The use of 'the' for certain geographical features like oceans, seas, rivers, and mountain ranges.

When to use 'the' before famous buildings and well-known works of art.

The application of 'the' with adjectives referring to specific groups of people.

Use of 'the' before family names when referred to as a group.

The use of 'the' with specific times and time periods.

How 'the' is used to make general statements about all things referred to by a singular countable noun.

The use of 'the' before organizations and when talking about hotels, restaurants, and pubs.

The application of 'the' with newspapers and other media sources.

Instances where 'the' is not used, such as with general plural countable and uncountable nouns.

When not to use 'the' with names of people, holidays, companies, and universities.

Exceptions to the rule of not using 'the' with certain country and city names.

The general rule of not using 'the' with academic subjects, sports, languages, or nationalities.

Common places and locations that typically do not require the use of the article 'the'.

Conclusion and invitation to download the accompanying PDF for further study.

Transcripts

- Hello, lovely students and welcome back to English with Lucy.

Today we are going to completely cover a notorious three_letter word: the.

I'm going to show you the 17 situations in which you do use the and the seven situations

where you do not, where you never use the.

I'm going to tell you whether you should use the pronunciation or the pronunciation.

Some of this might surprise you, so pay attention, and we'll also discuss all of the exceptions.

To help you with your studies and to help you put what you've learned into practise,

I have created a free PDF to go along with today's lesson.

It's got all of the lesson notes beautifully written for you.

You don't have to do it, and I've created some exercises so you can put what you've

learned into practise.

If you would like to download that, just click on the link in the description box.

You enter your first name and your email address.

The PDF will arrive directly in your inbox, and then after that, you will automatically

receive all of my free PDFs, my news, offers and updates.

Let's get started.

I always like to start with pronunciation because once you have bad pronunciation habits,

they're really hard to unlearn, to break.

It's better to start correctly from the very beginning.

So there are two ways to pronounce this word.

The first way is the, the, which is probably what you're more familiar with.

This uses the schwa sound, uh, the.

And we use this one when the following word, the word that comes after it starts with a

consonant sound.

For example, the church, the trailer.

The second way to pronounce it is the, the.

We use the when the word that follows starts with a vowel sound.

The intern, the entertainer.

We also use it for emphasis.

That was the best meal I've had in my life.

You are the greatest.

You will also sometimes hear native speakers make a bit of a mistake.

They will say the before a consonant sound, and they often do this when they're still

thinking about what comes next.

I will have the salmon, please.

One of the reasons for this is that it's more comfortable to say the with our mouth slightly

shut than it is to say the with our mouth open.

Okay, now that we've got pronunciation sorted, let's do a quick review of why we use the

word the in the first place and you might be surprised to know that it is the most used

word in the English language.

Notice how I said the most for emphasis.

That's because it's our definite article.

Let's look at a few of the basic rules for using it.

We use it to talk about a noun that has already been discussed, and is now known to the reader

or listener.

For example, I just got a new sofa.

The sofa's blue.

We also use it to refer to a specific noun, often used with a qualifier.

For example, don't put your phone on the broken table, not just any table, the broken table.

Broken there is the qualifier.

We also use it to identify a unique noun when there is only one.

The sun is out today.

There is only one sun, as far as we know.

It's important to know that we can use the word the with both countable and uncountable

nouns.

Countable nouns are nouns that you can physically count, like pencils or cars.

Uncountable nouns are things that cannot be counted, like bread.

I can't say I'll have two bread, two breads.

I'll say I have two loaves of bread or slices of bread.

Coffee, soap and maths are other examples.

So those are the ways you're probably familiar with but we need to get into the specifics,

the nitty gritty so that you can truly master this word.

Okay, let's look a bit more deeply with more depth on how to use the.

Firstly, number one, we use the before superlative adjectives and adverbs.

We had the best time yesterday.

This has to be the slowest taxi in town.

Number two, we use it with clauses and noun phrases introduced by only.

My aunt is the only person I trust.

Is this the only bowl you have?

Notice that because only begins with a vowel sound, we say the, the only.

Number three, with plural country names, typically ending in S. Have you been to the Netherlands?

Or the beaches in The Bahamas are incredible.

Four, we use it before country names that include Republic, Kingdom, Union or State.

She is currently in the Dominican Republic or where should I go in the United States?

Notice, I don't say the United States, the United States.

Even though United begins with a vowel, when it's spelt, we pronounce it with a ya sound

so it's not a vowel sound.

Number five, we use it with ordinal numbers used as qualifiers.

For example, this is the second time she's been late or you are the fifth doctor I've

talked to about this.

Number six, before compass directions, north, south, east and west, and we're talking about

specific areas of a town or a city or a country, not just north in general.

For example, I've never been to the north of France.

If I were to say I've never been north of France, it would mean that I have never visited

any country that is more northern than France itself.

Another example, the south is quite warm this time of year.

Number seven, we use the to refer to geographical locations.

She was born in the Middle East.

The best coffee grows near the equator.

We also use it to talk about, number eight, certain geographical features like oceans,

the Pacific Ocean, seas, the Baltic Sea, rivers, the River Nile, canals, the Panama Canal,

mountain ranges, the Himalayas, deserts, the Gobi Desert, gulfs, the Gulf of Mexico, forests,

the Amazon Rainforest and peninsulas, the Iberian Peninsula.

Number nine, we use the before famous buildings and well-known works of art.

Did you go to Paris just to see the Eiffel Tower?

I should have seen the Mona Lisa.

Number 10, we use the with adjectives that refer to specific groups of people.

There have been recent calls to tax the rich.

The rich is a very specific group of people.

Or the Spanish settled here in 1695.

Number 11, we used the before family names when referred to as a group.

The McAllisters moved last year.

We had dinner with the Smiths last night.

Number 12, we use the with specific times.

We will celebrate Leo's birthday on the 25th.

Or can you come in the morning?

13, we use it to talk about time periods.

My great-grandmother was born in the 1800s.

Or I wish I had lived in the 16th century.

14, we use it to say something about all things referred to by a singular countable noun.

The wolf is a dangerous animal, not a specific wolf, but wolves in general.

An exception to this is man, when we're referring to humans.

Man is the most dangerous mammal, for example, or my cousin plays the violin.

Not a specific violin, just the instrument in general.

Number 15, we use it before organisations.

She works for the US Postal Service or the World Health Organisation just mentioned something

about that.

16, we use it when talking about hotels, restaurants, and pubs.

Don't stay at the Ritz Carlton; you should stay at the Hilton.

Or let's have a few pints at the Ship and Shovel.

Please note, we don't use the when the name of an establishment starts with a name.

For example, we should head down to Froggy's Tavern, not we should head down to the Froggy's

Tavern.

Number 17, we use it with newspapers.

Mandy told me to read this article from the Guardian or we haven't read the review in

the Times yet.

Okay, that just about covers all of the instances in which you would use the, although that

are always exceptions.

Now let's shift gears and learn about when you don't need to use the.

Number one, we don't use the with general plural countable and uncountable nouns.

She buys apples.

He is baking bread.

Number two, we don't use it with names of people.

Do you know John?

Not the John.

Do you know John?

It's the same with names of holidays.

For example, they have plans for Christmas and New Year's.

The same goes for companies.

I stopped using Twitter and Facebook when I got my Apple iPhone.

Universities follow the same rule.

When Scarlet finishes her undergrad at Oxford, she will transfer to Stanford.

However, there's an exception.

We do use the when the university name starts with the word university, like my brother

will be teaching at the University of Miami next year.

Most country names also do not use the.

You should come to England.

Or we are flying to Sri Lanka tomorrow.

Follow that rule, except for the ones we mentioned in the previous section.

Most names of cities, towns, and states do not use the.

Pollution is terrible in Los Angeles.

My grandparents retired in Florida.

We also don't tend to use the for streets.

Oleg's flat is on Lombard Street, right before St. George Lane.

The only one key exception is the high street.

Most British towns will have a high street.

It is the main street where most of the shops and restaurants are found.

We often call it the high street.

The shop is on the high street.

Most lakes also don't carry the.

We'll take the kids out to Lake Windermere at the weekend.

And also names of single mountains.

So we said mountain ranges, like the Himalayas does carry the.

Single mountains do not.

She really wants to visit Mount Everest.

Finally, continents.

This is my first time in Asia, for example.

No the needed.

Okay, enough names now.

Let's continue with number three.

We don't use the when talking about academic subjects.

My daughter is having trouble with maths.

I studied art.

We also don't tend to use it when discussing sports.

I haven't played baseball since I was young.

We also don't tend to use it when referring to languages or talking about someone's nationality.

We've been learning Italian since April.

I've just found out that I have Japanese ancestry.

An exception is when we say the Italian language when we make that extremely clear.

I'm studying the Spanish language.

I'm learning the English language.

Number six, we do not use the when we have a noun followed by a number.

She and her husband will find you on platform three.

Number seven, we don't use the with acronyms.

We are still waiting to hear what NATO has to say.

You do use the with initialisms.

These are acronyms in which you pronounce each letter individually.

The FBI is investigating this situation.

Notice, I said the there because I said F, which starts with a vowel sound, eh.

There are also some common places and locations that typically do not require the use of an

article.

Learning these generally comes with practise, but let's look at a few of the most common.

Home.

She's on her way home.

Work.

Can you pick me up from work today?

School or university.

What time do you need to go to school?

She's in her first year of university.

Church.

My friend and I met at church when we were 12.

Hospital in British English.

We say dad's in hospital at the moment.

Although you will hear the used before the hospital in American English.

I need to go to the hospital.

I would just say I need to go to hospital.

Okay, that is enough for today.

I know it's a lot of information.

This is why I've created the PDF for you.

You can study all of the lesson notes.

You've got the full list with all of the examples, plus a quiz so you can test your understanding.

If you'd like to get that PDF, just click on the link in the description box and join

the mailing list.

Don't forget to connect with me on all of my social media.

I've got my Instagram, my Facebook, my website englishwithlucy.com.

There you can also see all of my courses.

We've got our big general English courses where you can do your B1 and B2 level of English.

We're also bringing out the C1 very soon.

Very exciting.

Or you can look into something more specific, like one of our challenges.

We've got our Business English Challenge, Listening Challenge, Grammar Challenge, Tenses

Challenge.

There's a lot of them.

That's all from me.

I will see you soon for another lesson.

Mwah.