Grammar: 8 rules for using 'THE' in English

United States or The United States? U.K. or The U.K.? Unsure of when to use a definite or an indefinite article? Watch this lesson and stop making these common mistakes in English!

For many non-native speakers of English who don't have articles in their own language, it can be really difficult to use articles correctly. Even for speakers of languages that have articles, it is difficult to get your use of articles right 100% of the time. This is because there are many exceptions and irregular grammar rules.

TRANSCRIPT


For many non-native speakers of English who don't have articles in their own language, it can be really difficult to use articles correctly. Even for speakers of languages that have articles, it is difficult to get your use of articles right 100% of the time. This is because there are many exceptions and irregular grammar rules.

TRANSCRIPT

Hi, everyone. I'm Jade. In this lesson today, we're looking at the rules for articles, but more specifically, the rules where we have exceptions in using articles. So when I'm observing people's English, all the time I'm hearing the same mistakes with articles. So what you will learn to do in this lesson is how to avoid those really, really common mistakes I hear all the time.

If you're somebody who just doesn't use articles at all because in your native language, you don't have articles, I understand it can be really, really hard to start using them. But they are an important aspect of grammar, and you should be using them. So if you watch this lesson, you'll get some tips for using articles, where you need them, and where you shouldn't use them. And also, if you're someone who's getting articles right nearly all the time, I'm quite sure that you will pick up one or two rules here that you didn't know before. So let's get started.

There are eight different rules. Rule No. 1: When we're talking about countries, most countries we don't use an article. So here some sentences. "She lives in England. They live in America." We don't use articles. But if the country's considered to be a nation state, a collection of different states, or a collection of different countries in one bigger state, then we use articles. Here are examples. So "the U.S.A., the U.K., the U.A.E." -- where I spend a lot of my time -- and here are -- also, we need to mention islands. When a country is a group of islands, we always use articles. So we would say "the Virgin Islands", and we'd say "the Philippines" as well.

It's interesting that we can say, "She lives in England" because England is one country, but when talking about the same -- okay, it's not exactly the same place, the U.K., because it's -- the U.K. is more than one country. It's more than just England. But sometimes people think of it as being the same place. It's not. When we're talking about the U.K., we need an article, but just for "England", it's okay not to use an article.

Let's take a look at rule No. 2. Rule No. 2 -- this is a really subtle rule, here. And this one I always correct in sentences. When people talk about meals -- breakfast, lunch, dinner, also brunch is a meal you might not know. It's in between breakfast and lunch. -- we don't use articles. So here's a correct sentence. "I don't eat breakfast." I'm talking in general there. "I don't eat breakfast." That's okay to say. However, if I'm being specific, "We didn't like the dinner", it's okay to use an article here. You need to. So what does the sentence actually mean? Imagine that we were out last night, and we had a meal. And now, we're talking about it. "Well, the place was nice, but I didn't like the dinner." Being specific about that experience we had. If I'm talking in general, "I don't like dinner", that would just mean all the time, okay? So it's a very big difference in meaning.

Now, we'll look at rule No. 3 for jobs. Jobs take the indefinite article. That's a grammar word. And "indefinite article" means "a". We don't use "the".

[idyld]

You pronounced the phrase "Freedom is worth dying for!" in such a funny way) now it will be in my mind for about 2 days)

[GLCrushspace]

I'm pretty sure that most people who live in English speaking countries don't know this stuff.

[skvboph]

It was so hard for me studying all these rules about articles, because we don't have them in Russian at all. Even now I'm always confused by using them in my speech or when I write something. Your explanation is good, it helped me to refresh my knowledge.

[HowitzerBug]

It's amazing how there are all these obscure rules, yet as a native English speaker I find it silly that people don't understand.
BUT: then I see a video such as this and my mind is blown at how complicated our language is!

[setulusnya]

Your native voice is really mesmerizing

[ARMALON]

Freedom is definitely worth dying for! 8:19

[expo]

Thank you for making this video. I truly enjoyed learning English with you. Hope you make more and more videos next time!

[valentinalotova]

Thank you so much for your lessons! Cause they're pretty useful for me and I'm sure for all your subscribers too!

[Momo-lkfw]

I usually have a huge problem with placing ‘’ the ‘’. here it comes I come to the right place and solving my problem. Many thank.

[dmitroivanov]

Jade thank a lot. In school we had a few times when teacher explained articles, your lesson was like recap.

[reaksmeyradi]

amazing, sometimes I make the mistakes in those articles. thank you so much, if you make more sentences about those sentences they would be good.

[HOON]

She speak slowly. It helps to me so much! Thanks Jade!

[anjolllllie]

You are also THE introvert girl, i'm obsessed with you lately. i'm an introvert and i'd like to improve my english so when i travel i can break some of my introvert habits more easily. I do not know if it makes sense lol . Thank you for all.

[shinkinshin]

Subscribed! This is really helpful, as I'm a student and still trying to improve my grammar! Your videos will be very helpful in the future for me, so keep making 'em!

[ArshadAli-rtdg]

hi I'm new to English language world and just started, and in the start I found your useful lectures, I will love to keep following you to make me confident to read, write and speak English in a good

[omeruslu]

You did explain the lesson, clearly.Thanks for the lesson.

[vanmovanmo]

thanks so much for your efforts and explanation your channel is amazing

[manuleon]

Very useful and educational as well. Thank you so much!!

[jimnewton]

An exception to rule # 4. we don't use an article with a proper name except when there is also an adjective or otherwise modified. For example, "I'll see you Monday", but "I'll see you on the Monday after your birthday". "Did you talk to Jane?" but "Did you talk to the lovely Jane?"

[augustinesenglishclasses]

Clear and concise, I enjoyed your video on the articles! Keep up the good work and stay AWESOME! :D