1. An item both people can identify
The indicates that the listener can identify the item or group being discussed. It may be the only relevant item in the situation, something already familiar, or an identifiable group: the window, the keys. Some uses are also conventional, such as play the piano; they do not refer to one particular instrument.
English article choices are not always obvious from the meaning of a sentence alone. In examples such as Pass the salt and This is the best hotel, ask whether the listener can identify the intended item or the relevant choice within a group.
If the listener cannot identify the item, a singular countable noun often takes a/an, while a generic plural or uncountable noun takes no article. Several items can also be definite: the keys. A first mention does not prohibit the if the item is clear from the situation.
the + an item uniquely identifiable to speaker and listener
Please close the window; it is cold.
Please close the window; it is cold.
There is one open window in the room, and both people know which one it is.
Where did you put the keys?
Where did you put the keys?
The question concerns the keys that both people have in mind.
I need a plumber.
I need a plumber.
Use a here: the speaker needs a plumber, not an identified particular one.
2. Superlatives: the best, the cheapest, the most useful
A superlative in an ordinary noun phrase often requires the: the oldest church, the best players. More than one item can be among the best; the choice is not always limited to one. The is also possible without a noun: This one is the cheapest. However, comparison of one person's states can naturally omit it: I’m happiest at home.
The comparison group is often introduced by in (the class, the town) or of (all my teachers, the three). A possessive can replace the in a superlative phrase: our best player, not the our best player. With adverbs (works hardest), the is often omitted in conversation.
Most before a plural noun without another determiner can mean the majority: most people. This does not mean that every most without the has that meaning: a most useful guide means a very useful guide in formal style.
the + adjective-est / the most + adjective
- adjective —
- A word describing what someone or something is like: happy, tired, interesting.
Of all my teachers, Mr Lee is the most patient.
Of all my teachers, Mr Lee is the most patient.
One person is selected from the group of teachers: the superlative takes the.
Which is the nearest pharmacy?
Which is the nearest pharmacy?
The nearest pharmacy identifies the closest pharmacy in this situation. A superlative is not a mathematical proof that no other pharmacy is equally close.
Her best idea came at midnight.
Her best idea came at midnight.
The possessive her replaces the.
Most people here walk to work.
Most people here walk to work.
Most without the means the majority here; it is not a superlative.
3. Ordinals: the first, the second, the last
An ordinal identifies an exact position in a sequence, and that position is unique. Use the before first, second, and third: the third floor, the second question. Related definite expressions include the last, the next, the only, and the same, with examples such as the last page and the next stop identifying a place in a sequence. Time expressions such as next week and last year take no article; that is a separate rule.
Second can be tricky. Wait a second refers to a moment; a second chance means another opportunity rather than focusing on its number; the second chance identifies the second one in an established sequence. There are also fixed expressions: for the first time, at first meaning initially, and adverbial first without the: I came first means finishing in first place.
The first/last is usually followed by a noun or a to-infinitive: the first to answer, the last student in the room.
the + first / second / third / last / next + (noun or to-infinitive)
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
- infinitive —
- The base verb form. With to: to work; without to: work. The pattern determines whether to is needed.
The third question was the hardest.
The third question was the hardest.
The third identifies one particular question; hardest is a superlative.
Take the second turning on the left.
Take the second turning on the left.
The second turning identifies one point along the route.
She gave me a second chance.
She gave me a second chance.
A second emphasises an additional opportunity rather than its position in a sequence.
We met for the first time in Prague.
We met for the first time in Prague.
For the first time is a fixed expression.
4. Unique things: the sun, the internet, the government
The sun, the moon, and the sky typically refer to features of our shared surroundings. The government and the president rely on an understood country or institution, not on there being only one government or president in the world.
Names such as Mars and Venus, and most proper names, usually have no the. Government can occur in different phrases: the government of this country, a new government, governments, or our government. A specific country does not itself rule out other determiners.
The is also used when an item is unique in a particular situation and familiar to both people: the kitchen in your office, or the manager in your department. This is the same principle of uniqueness on a smaller scale.
the + an item unique in the world, country, or situation
The weather in March is unpredictable here.
The weather in March is unpredictable here.
The weather is shared by everyone in this location.
She shared the photos on the internet.
She shared the photos on the internet.
The internet is understood as one network; standard English uses the.
Mars has two moons, but the Earth has only one.
Mars has two moons, but the Earth has only one.
Mars is a planet's name and takes no the. Earth often takes the, although it can also appear without it.
The manager is on holiday today.
The manager is on holiday today.
The department has one manager, and everyone knows who that is.
5. Musical instruments: play the piano
For an ability or habitual playing, the traditional pattern is play the piano, play the guitar, play the drums. It names a type of instrument. Play a piano or play an accordion is also grammatical when referring to some particular instrument being played.
Play guitar and play piano without the are also established, especially in American usage and musicians' speech; they are not automatically errors in writing. The basic model here is play the piano. Sports and games usually take no article: play tennis, play chess.
When naming a specific object rather than an ability, ordinary article rules apply: She bought a cello refers to an object, while She plays the cello refers to an ability.
play the + instrument · play + sport or game without an article
My aunt plays the harmonica at family parties.
My aunt plays the harmonica at family parties.
Play the + instrument.
Dad plays the drums in a local band.
Dad plays the drums in a local band.
Plural drums also takes the.
They play chess every Friday.
They play chess every Friday.
The game takes no article.
She bought a cello at a second-hand shop.
She bought a cello at a second-hand shop.
This names an object being purchased rather than an ability, so use a.
6. When the is unnecessary
A possessive or demonstrative usually occupies the determiner position: our best player, this old bridge, not the our player. Generic plurals and uncountable concepts often take no article: Governments often change; I love music. Neither first mention nor plurality alone prohibits the.
Separate cases with no article, involving institutions, meals, transport, or days of the week, belong to other rules and are not covered here. The key point is that when an item is not uniquely identifiable or already has another determiner, consider another article or no article.
my / this / your + (adjective) + noun · without the
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
- adjective —
- A word describing what someone or something is like: happy, tired, interesting.
Her youngest brother is only six.
Her youngest brother is only six.
The possessive her replaces the.
I love music.
I love music.
Music is discussed generally, without an article.
Governments often change rules after elections.
Governments often change rules after elections.
This is a generic plural.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:Anya is best dancer in her school.
Correct:Anya is the best dancer in her school.
The superlative noun phrase selects a member of a group and requires the here.
Incorrect:Who was a first person to walk on the moon?
Correct:Who was the first person to walk on the moon?
Ordinal first identifies a unique position, so use the rather than a.
Incorrect:We can find almost everything on internet.
Correct:We can find almost everything on the internet.
The internet is treated as one identifiable network, so the is required.
Incorrect:Sun was shining and sky was clear.
Correct:The sun was shining and the sky was clear.
The sun and sky are shared, identifiable features of our surroundings; each requires the here.
Incorrect:Our neighbours play the badminton in the park.
Correct:Our neighbours play badminton in the park.
Names of sports and games take no article in this pattern.