The is used before nouns to talk about something with which the listener or reader knows about.

The laptop on the desk was made by Apple.
• I saw the moon last night.
(There is only one moon, so the reader knows which moon)
• The capital of France is Paris.
(France has only one capital, so the reader knows which capital)
• There is some milk in the fridge.
(I only have one fridge, so the reader knows which fridge)
The first time you talk about something use a or an. The next time you talk about it use the.
• I want to buy an umbrella.
(There are lots of umbrellas to buy so we don’t know which one)
• I want to buy the blue umbrella we saw yesterday.
(We know which umbrella – the blue one – so the)
• There is a woman in reception.
(We don’t know which woman it is)
• The woman from the bank in reception.
(We know which woman it is, the woman from the bank)
• I live in a big house. The house is old and has four bedrooms.
(We say a house when we first talk about it because the reader doesn’t know which house. We say the house when we talk about it again because the reader now knows which house it is)
• I was on holiday last week. The hotel was very good.
(We say The hotel because the reader knows it is the hotel I stayed in on my holiday)
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Remember: When you know what it is use the.
Re-write each sentence CAREFULLY using the where necessary.
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Question 1 of 6
1. Question
Loch Ness is most famous lake in Scotland.
Correct
Loch Ness is the most famous lake in Scotland.
The because the can only be one most famous lake in Scotland.Incorrect
Loch Ness is the most famous lake in Scotland.
The because the can only be one most famous lake in Scotland. -
Question 2 of 6
2. Question
Smog is a problem in big cities.
Correct
Smog is a problem in big cities.
A, an and the go with singular nouns. Cities is a plural noun so no the.Incorrect
Smog is a problem in big cities.
A, an and the go with singular nouns. Cities is a plural noun so no the. -
Question 3 of 6
3. Question
I spoke to manager.
Correct
I spoke to a / the manager.
Both a and the are possible. A manager would mean that there is more than one manger. The manager would mean that there is only one manger.Incorrect
I spoke to a / the manager.
Both a and the are possible. A manager would mean that there is more than one manger. The manager would mean that there is only one manger. -
Question 4 of 6
4. Question
It’s the first road on right.
Correct
It’s the first road on the right.
The because the can only be one first road on the right.Incorrect
It’s the first road on the right.
The because the can only be one first road on the right. -
Question 5 of 6
5. Question
Summer of 1996 was hot and dry.
Correct
The summer of 1996 was hot and dry.
The because the can only be one summer of 1996.Incorrect
The summer of 1996 was hot and dry.
The because the can only be one summer of 1996. -
Question 6 of 6
6. Question
I think exporters should get more help from Government.
Correct
I think exporters should get more help from the Government.
A, an and the go with singular nouns. Exporters is a plural noun so no the.
The because the can only be one government in a country, so the listener would know which government is being talked about.Incorrect
I think exporters should get more help from the Government.
A, an and the go with singular nouns. Exporters is a plural noun so no the.
The because the can only be one government in a country, so the listener would know which government is being talked about.
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Remember: When you know what it is use the.
The man at the back is not a priest.
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A or An before nouns?
An should be used before nouns that talk about one person or thing, and begin with a vowel sound(a, e, i, o, u). (3:15)Vocabulary Video Lesson: Dictators
This vocabulary lesson will help you define fanatic, bully, tyrant, autocrat, oppressor, persecutor, dogmatist, exploiter and malevolent (8:00)