Definite Article – use and omission

Use

Use the:

- when we talk about a specific person, thing or place:

Peter asked the English teacher about the day of the exam.

I went to see the film you recommended.

- when we know that there is only one of a particular thing:

What is the longest river in the world?

Note: We say: the sun, the moon, the sky, the sea, the weather, the climate, the atmosphere, the wind, the environment.

- with musical instruments:

Martha plays the violin and her sister plays the piano.

-with the names of the oceans, seas, rivers, and mountain ranges:

The plane crossed the Atlantic in less than four hours.

-with the names of certain countries or groups of countries and groups of islands:

the United States of America (the USA), the United Kingdom (the UK), the Dominican Republic.

I spent my summer holidays in the Bahamas.

Note: We use the definite article in names with Republic, Kingdom, States, etc.

Don’t Use

Don’t use the:

- when we are talking about things or people in general:

Dolphins are very intelligent animals.Football players earn a lot of money.

- with the names of most streets, roads, cities, states, regions, and countries:

Oxford Street is one of the most famous streets in London.

- with many names of important buildings and institutions such as hospital, university, prison, school, college, or church:

She visited Buckingham Palace and Cambridge University.

My father has to stay in hospital for a month.

Notes: 1) We use articles when we talk about institutions as particular placesor buildings (David’s mother goes to the hospital to see him every day).

2) We also use the with names of hotels, restaurants, pubs, museums,galleries and some other important buildings (the Hilton Hotel, the BombayRestaurant, the British Museum, the Empire State Building).

-with sports, meals and school subjects:

I hate football but I love cycling.

We always have lunch together.

He is good at History.

Note: We use the article when we describe a particular meal (The dinner we had at the Red Lion was marvellous).

-With the names of holidays, special times of the year,or with the names of months and days of the week:

Susan usually spends Easter with her grandparents.

I’ll see you on Saturday.