There are some situations where we do NOT use “the”:
Do not use “the” for general ideas:
I like apples, but I don’t like pears. (not the apples…the pears)
Life is short, so eat dessert first. (not The life…the dessert)
Cats make good pets. (not The cats…the good pets)
Variety is the spice of life. (not The variety…the life)
Sweets are not good for you. (not The sweets)
Writing with chalk is messy. (not the chalk)
Boys have lots of energy. (not The boys…the energy)
Do not use “the” for games or sports:
Do you want to play tennis? (not the tennis)
Jack likes baseball and football. (not the baseball…the football)
My favorite sports are skiing and swimming. (not the skiing…the swimming)
Do not use “the” for languages or academic subjects:
Douglas does well in science, especially physics. (not the science…the physics)
I teach math, usually algebra and trigonometry. (not the math…the algebra…the trigonometry)
Uncle Paul speaks French and German, but not Spanish. (not the French…the German…the Spanish)
Note: Sometimes “the” might be needed in one context and not in another.
Look at the following examples:
| But: | |
| I hate exams.
(exams in general – any exam) |
The exams I took on Monday were easy.
(specific exams – those on Monday) |
| I enjoy winter weather.
(weather in general – any weather in the winter season) |
Do you know what the weather is supposed to be like tomorrow?
(specific weather – tomorrow’s weather) |
| It used to be that Catholics didn’t eat meat on Fridays.
(meat in general – any meat) |
The meat was cooked to perfection.
(specific meat – the meat I ate) |
| I listen to music when I exercise.
(music in general – any music) |
The music is too loud – could you please turn it down?
(specific music – the music that is playing now) |
Exercise. Look at the following sentences. Insert “the” if it is needed. If “the” is not necessary, write “OK.”
Example:
I hope we have ______ good weather for our picnic. ==> OK.
Did you feed ______ dogs last night? ==> Did you feed the dogs last night?
1. All’s fair in ______ love and ______ war.
2. By the time everyone was seated, ______ tea had grown cold.
3. Let me know when ______ water comes to a boil.
4. Mr. Brown encourages his children to study ______ music.
5. Jack has mastered ______ art of cake decorating.
6. Do you think ______ fish would make good pets?
7. I think ______ milk has turned sour.
8. Mary likes ______ sound of ______ rain on the roof.
9. Sometimes ______ life is not fair.
10. Father gave Mother ______ flowers for Valentine’s Day.
11. Some people think it’s wrong to wear ______ fur.
12. Sam spent three years studying ______ history of the northern fishing villages.
13. Older people are often uncomfortable using ______ computers.
14. How long have you been studying ______ English?
15. Wear a smock – working with ______ paint can be messy.
16. ______ sand is used to make ______ glass.
17. As soon as the oven is hot enough, put ______ bread in to bake.
18. Who introduced ______ silk to Europe?