1
My little sister loves the animals.
My little sister loves animals.
I like listening to the music.
I like listening to music.
When talking about something in general, do not use the before a plural or uncountable noun: ‘I love animals.’ ‘I love music.’
Use the when you mean particular animals or music: ‘I love the animals in this picture.’ ‘I loved the music at the party.’
2
The crime is the biggest problem in the city.
Crime is the biggest problem in the city.
Crime is an uncountable noun here. Do not use the when talking about an uncountable noun in general.
3
I think the English is a very nice language.
I think English is a very nice language.
English language is not hard to learn.
The English language is not hard to learn.
Do not use the before the names of languages: ‘I speak English.’ However, say ‘the English language’.
4
Then we went to the Oxford Street.
Then we went to Oxford Street.
Do not normally use the before the name of a street: ‘Oxford Street’, ‘Baker Street’.
5
Yesterday I went to gym.
Yesterday I went to the gym.
The hotel is very near bus station.
The hotel is very near the bus station.
Use the with common places in town when it is clear which place you mean: ‘the gym’, ‘the bank’, ‘the station’. A singular place noun cannot normally stand alone: if you mean any bus station, say ‘a bus station’.
6
I’d like to go to UK to learn English.
I’d like to go to the UK to learn English.
Most country names do not take the: ‘Spain’, ‘France’, ‘Japan’. Some do, including ‘the UK’, ‘the US’, ‘the Netherlands’ and ‘the Philippines’.
7
We were in a hotel near the Victoria Station.
We were in a hotel near Victoria Station.
We arrived at the Barajas Airport very early.
We arrived at Barajas Airport very early.
Do not normally use the before the name of a station or airport: ‘Victoria Station’, ‘Barajas Airport’. Compare ‘the station’ and ‘the airport’ when you are not using their names.
8
They are training to climb the Mount Everest.
They are training to climb Mount Everest.
Do not use the with names such as ‘Mount Everest’ and ‘Mount Fuji’. Use the with mountain ranges: ‘the Alps’, ‘the Pyrenees’.
9
Yesterday we went to the Anna’s house.
Yesterday we went to Anna’s house.
Do not put the before a person’s name or a possessive name: ‘Anna’, ‘Anna’s house’.
10
We booked the room 20 because it was our favourite.
We booked room 20 because it was our favourite.
Do not use the before noun + number when the number identifies it: ‘room 20’, ‘page 5’, ‘bus 12’.
11
The day I hate is the Monday.
The day I hate is Monday.
The 1999 was a terrible year for me.
1999 was a terrible year for me.
The August is the most popular month for tourists.
August is the most popular month for tourists.
Do not normally use the before the names of days, months or years: ‘Monday’, ‘August’, ‘1999’.
Use the if more words identify a particular day or month: ‘The Monday I met her family was a disaster.’
Check our grammar lesson on a/an, the and no article.
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