The article "The"

The article "The"

1. "The" is used:

   • * for somebody or something specific or already mentioned.
     • A: There's a new store in the street. B: Yes, it's the store I saw yesterday.
   • * for things that are unique.
     • The moon, The Eiffel Tower.
   • * with the superlative of adjectives/adverbs.
     • Stanley Kubrick is one of the best filmakers in history.
   • * before names of seas, rivers, oceans, and deserts.
     • the Caspian Sea, the Amazon, the Sahara Desert.
   • * before groups of islands, montain ranges and countries in the plural.
     • the Canary Islands, the Eastern Alps, the Netherlands.
   • * before nationalities. when we refer to the whole nation.
     • The Chinese invented gunpowder thousands of years ago.
   • * before people's last names, when we refer to the whole family.
     • The Rodriguez came to visit the Santa Monica Pier.
   • * before names of hotels, restaurants, theaters, movie theaters, and newspapers.
     • the Cesar's Hotel, the Cordon Blue, the Bild.
   • * before musical instruments.
     • Axel plays the guitar.
   • * before the cardinal points.
     • Houston is to the south of Dallas.

2. "The" isn't used:

   • * before names of people, streets, islands, mountains, cities, countries, and continents.
     • Axel Gomez, Harvard Street, Hawaii, Everest, Los Anfeles, France, Europe.
   • * before names of days and months.
     • on Friday / in November
   • * before plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns when we are talking about something in general.
     • Tigers are dangerous animals. I like to eat fish.
   • * before abstract nouns (love, hope, beauty, etc)
     • She mustn't lose love.
   • * before names of megazines, sports, games, colors and languages (when they are not followed by the word language.)
     • I buy Forbes every week. I like playing soccer, Axel's favorite color is blue, We speak Italian,
   • * before names of squares, parks and lakes.
     • Monseñor Romero Square, Jocoro Park, Lake Ilopango
   • * before the words school, work, home, bed, church, prison and college when they are used for the purpose for wich they exist.
     • Michael was tired went to bed.
   • * before the words breakfast, lunch and dinner.
     • We went to a restaurant for dinner.