ESL – Correct Usage Of The Article `the`

Just like many of our students who find tutors on the TutorZ site, I am also an English as a second (ESL) language speaker. For ESL speakers like us, the correct usage of the definite article “the” can be somewhat … hazy

My ESL friend Anna Niko is a Russian speaker. The Russian language uses no articles whatsoever. So for Anna, using articles has been particularity interesting. That’s why she taught  at TutorZ the following:

The definite article the is the most frequent word in English.

We use the definite article in front of a noun when we believe the listener knows exactly what we are referring to. For example:

• The president of the United States
• The moon is so big tonight.

Further uses of the definite article if there is only one in that place or in those surroundings:

• Dad, can I borrow the car?
• We live next to the church.

We also use the definite article when we say something about all the things referred to by a noun:

• The wolf is not really a dangerous animal.
• The kangaroo is found only in Australia.

When we use countries the usage of the define article becomes tricky. “The” is dropped when we refer to Germany, Italy, and France, even though these countries are very unique, in fact the only one existing. We don’t say the Germany, the Italy, the France.

However, when talking about countries that consist of individual parts such as the US (United States), the UK (United Kingdom), the UAE (United Arabic Emirates) then the article the is kept. Note the correct usage of the definite article in

• The US vs. England
• The Russian Federation vs. Russia

In a similar vain, the definite article is dropped before days of the week, parks, streets, mountains and lakes. For example, I’ve been to Lake Ontario.

However, unlike lakes, when referring to oceans, the definite article is kept. For example, we overflew the Atlantic Ocean.

The picture below illustrates how the usage of the “the” depends on its context.

In summary, use the definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular. If in doubt, ask one of our 3000+ ESL tutors.