Definite article

1. Sounds:



The definite article is THE.
It is used for singular and plural.
The pronunciation differs before a vowel or consonant.
The difference depends on the sound of the vowels and consonants, not the spelling.

2. Examples:

THE / ð¶ /                       THE / ði: /

a teacher                         an English teacher            
a peach                           an orange
a woman                         an old woman
a house                           an hour 
a man                             an honest man
a useful book                  an heir
a university                     an honor
a European                     an Irish person

Explanation of the symbols: these symbols help you to use the correct pronunciation.
/ ð¶ / You pronounce / ð / it like th in these. You pronounce the / ¶ / like e in answer
/ ði: / You pronounce / ð / it like th in these. You pronounce the / i: / like ee in see

3. Use:

THE is used before names of instruments:

I play the piano.
My sisters play the violin.
My teacher plays the guitar.

Don't put THE before names of meals, except when we talk about a particular meal:

Dinner is served.
What time do you have lunch?
BUT: The dinner we had yesterday was delicious.

Don't put THE before names of seasons, except when we talk about a particular season:

We have a long holiday in summer.
Flowers bloom in spring.
BUT: The winter of 1966 was the coldest in history.

No THE before names of mountains:

Mount Everest is 8,862 meters high.
We stood on top of Etna.

No THE before abstract nouns used in general use:

I love nature.
Life is short.