specific people, places or things.
to refer back to people, places or things we mentioned earlier
adjectives to describe people or groups
in place names including what type of place it is.
I must see the dentist.
(= my dentist)
The boys are boisterous today!
(= the boys we know)
The butter is in the fridge.
(= the butter you're looking for)
I must see a dentist.
(= any dentist)
Boys are boisterous!
(= boys in general)
Butter isn't good for you.
(= butter in general)
Slide 6
USE OF THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
DO
Surnames in the plural form indicating a family or a couple
e.g. the Simpsons, the Sopranos
DON'T
Names, honorifics, airline companies and companies in general:
e.g.
John is on holiday.
Dr. Blake is a vascular specialist.
We flew with Alitalia.
I work for Barilla.
Slide 7
DO
Adjectives indicating a category of people
e.g. the homeless, the poor
! We use a/an + adjective + noun to indicate a single person:
e.g. a poor boy
Singular nouns indicating a category of things or animals
e.g. The cat is a natural hunter.
! We can convey the same meaning using a plural noun without the definite article.
e.g. Cats are natural hunters.
DON'T
Languages, subjects, sports, meals, colours and diseases
e.g.
I speak Portuguese.
I like history.
Football is a national sport.
Dinner is ready.
Pink doesn't suit me.
He's got pneumonia.
Slide 8
DO
Public places and parts of the house
e.g. the baker's, the bank, the kitchen
Musical instruments
e.g. Ben is learning to play the drums.
Unique objects
e.g. the moon, the Internet
Adjectives indicating a category of people or a population
e.g. The Mexicans speak Mexican Spanish.
Some expressions such as:
in the mountains, on the plain, on the sea
in the country/countryside, in the hills
DON'T
Before nouns followed by numbers
e.g. He's arriving on flight BA405.
With days, months, festivities, years, hours and expressions such as at night, by day.
e.g. I normally have football training on Wednesday, but tomorrow is Halloween.