the

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Thesaurus

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determiner strong British English pronunciation: the

/ðiː/ weak British English pronunciation: the

/ðə/

/ði/

The is used as the definite article before a noun.

1
used when you are referring to a particular thing or person that has already been mentioned or is already known about
Have you locked the door?
I have to look after the children.
A nurse brought me some bread and coffee, but the bread was stale and the coffee tasted of soap.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
1. a.
  used when it is obvious which one you are referring to because there is only one
  The sun was hidden behind a cloud.
  the US president
  I’ll meet you outside the main entrance.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
2. b.
  used when you are referring to familiar things that people deal with regularly
  I looked up at the ceiling.
  Suddenly all the lights went out.
  a place to shelter from the wind and the rain
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
Usage note: the
Use the before words such as ‘school’, ‘university’, and ‘prison’ when you are referring to a particular building: Inspectors will be visiting the school next week.
Do not use the when you are referring to the institution in general: Her husband has been sent to prison for three years.
In American English, however, the is used with ‘hospital’ for referring to the institution in general: She was admitted to the hospital with minor head injuries.
2
used before a singular noun when making a general statement about people or things of a particular type
The average university student is not very interested in politics.
People have come to depend on the car as their only means of transport.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
Usage note: the
Do not use the when you are talking about travelling by a particular form of transport: We went by plane.
3
used when referring to a part of a particular thing
Take the top of the piece of paper and fold it so that it is even with the bottom.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
1. a.
  used when referring to parts of the body
  He has a gunshot wound in the neck.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
4
used before dates or periods of time
the 4th of July
The next day he flew back to Paris.
the 1930s/the eighties etc:
popular music of the 1960s
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
5
used when explaining which person or thing you are referring to
Who was the actor who played Romeo?
We live in the house with green shutters.
We shall be interviewing Peter Carey, the author.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
6
used before a noun that refers to an action, especially when it is followed by ‘of’
the destruction of a whole city
the death of Princess Diana
the burning of several houses
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
7
used before the names of seas, rivers, deserts, or groups of mountains
the Pacific Ocean
the Thames
the Sahara
the Alps
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
1. a.
  used before the names of large public buildings
  the Town Hall
  the Science Museum
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
Usage note: the
The is not usually used before the names of individual mountains: Mount Everest
The is not usually used before the names of streets, towns, countries, states, or continents: My parents live in Kenya.
There are a few exceptions, for example: the Sudan ♦ the United States ♦ the Hague
8
used before an adjective to form a noun when you are referring to the type of thing that is described by the adjective
the impossible/supernatural/unthinkable etc:
Are we attempting to achieve the impossible?
a belief in the supernatural
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
9
used before superlative adjectives and words such as ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘next’, and ‘last’
the best hotel in Paris
It was the first time I’d ever met a real live film star.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
10
used before an adjective to form a plural noun when you are referring to people of a particular type or people from a particular country
the rich/poor/young/unemployed etc:
a policy of taxing the rich to help the poor
the French/British/Japanese etc:
The Japanese eat a lot of seafood.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
1. a.
  used before a plural name when you are referring to members of a particular family
  She’s been living with the Wilsons for nearly three months.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
Usage note: the
Do not use the before a person’s name when it is used in the possessive: The car was parked in front of Jim’s house.
11
[usually in negatives] used when saying whether there is enough of something for a particular purpose
He didn’t have the strength to go on fighting.
I’d like to start my own business – that’s what I’d do if I had the money.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
12
used when you are saying what type of musical instrument someone plays
Lorna plays the violin.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
13
/ðiː/ used when a particular person, thing, or place that you are referring to is the famous one, or is the best or most fashionable
‘The man’s name was Alfred Hitchcock.’ ‘Not the Alfred Hitchcock?’
For night-life, Juan-les-Pins is definitely the place.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
14
used before the name of a dish when ordering food, especially in an expensive restaurant
I’d like the salmon, please.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the
Usage note: the
Do not use the before the names of meals: Dinner is at 7.30. ♦ What are we having for lunch?

phrase

the... the...
used with ‘more’, ‘less’, and other comparatives for showing that when an amount, activity, feeling, or quality increases or is reduced, it causes something else to increase or be reduced at the same time
The more people who help, the better.
The sooner we finish, the happier I’ll be.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of the

This is the British English definition of the. View American English definition of the.

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