Use of the definite article

'The' is the definite article used in English. However, the usage poses problems to the beginner. If you follow the guide given here, you will be able to overcome most of the problems.

We do not use 'the' with names of people or places.

People: Suranimala, Andrew, Thiagarajah

The Mahaweli is the longest river in Sri Lanka.

Continents: Asia, Africa, Australia

Islands: Sri Lanka, Sicily

Cities, towns and villages: Colombo, Nittambuwa, Malamulla

Mountains and lakes: Everest, Pidurutalagala, Lake Superior

However, we use 'the' in names of countries with 'Republic', 'Kingdom' or 'States'.

The United Kingdom, The United States of America, The United Arab Emirates, The Dominican Republic.

He is a citizen of the United Arab Emirates.

We also use 'the' with abbreviations.

The US, The UK, The UAE.

'The' is used before the names of canals, rivers, seas and oceans.

The Channel, The Mahaweli, The Indian Ocean.

The Mahaweli is the longest river in Sri Lanka.

'The' is used with plural names of people and certain countries.

The Silvas (the Silva family), The Netherlands, The Philippines.

'The' is used with groups of islands and mountain ranges.

The Maldives, The Himalayas.

'The' is used with directions.

The North, The South, The West, The East.

Jaffna is in the North.

Matara is in the South.

Colombo is in the West.

Batticaloa is in the East.

However, 'the' is dropped when directions are used with the name of a country.

New York is in North America.

Venezuela is in South America.

'The' is not used with names of roads, streets and parks.

Galle Road, Main Street, Hyde Park.

'The' is not used with names of well-known buildings and institutions.

Gaffoor Building, Kelaniya University.

'The' is used with;

Hotels: The Palace Hotel (in Negombo) but Hilton, Colombo.

Theatres: The Odeon Cinema

Newspapers: The Sunday Observer, The Hindu

'The' is not used with churches named after saints.

I am going to the United Kingdom for a holiday.

St. Anthony's Church

St. Paul's Cathedral

'The' is not used with shops, hotels, and banks named after those who started them.

Vijitha Yapa Bookshop

Gunasena Bookshop

McDonalds

Lloyds Bank

Harrods

I am going to the United Kingdom for a holiday.

Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean.

Quiz on vocabulary

Underline the correct word that matches the meaning and check your answers with the solution.

1.A person who studies stars and other heavenly phenomena:

(a) scientist (b) geologist

(c) astronomer (d) professor

2. One who studies plant life:

(a) botanist (b) biologist (c) zoologist (d) astrologer

3. One who studies insect life:

(a) linguist (b) sociologist (c) entomologist (d) etymologist

4. One who studies the meaning and psychology of words.

(a) philosopher (b) philologist (c) semanticist (d) etymologist

5. Analysis of living tissue:

(a) autopsy (b) biopsy (c) piracy (d) autonomy

6. Self-governing:

(a) autobiographical

(b) automatic

(c) autonomous

(d) dichotomous

7. Part that represents the whole:

(a) epitome (b) dichotomy (c) metronome (d) astronomy

8. One who travels in space:

(a) astronomer (b) astrologer (c) astronaut (d) athlete

9. One who manages the financial affairs of a university

(a) bursar (b) accountant (c) economist (d) adviser

10. One who works in a dairy.

(a) shepherd (b) dairyman (c) cowboy (d) milkman

11. A worker who supervises and directs other workers.

(a) foreman (b) workman (c) supervisor (d) manager

Solution: 1. (c), 2. (a), 3. (c), 4. (c), 5. (b), 6. (c), 7. (a), 8. (c), 9. (a), 10. (b), 11. (a)

Abbreviations

S
Sr Sister
SSP Senior Superintendent of Police
St Saint
STD Sexually Transmitted Disease
Sun Sunday

T

TB Tuberculosis
TELO Tamil Eelam
Liberation Organization
TESL Teaching of English
as a Second Language
TESOL Teaching of English
to Speakers of Other Languages
Thu Thursday

tid ter in die (Latin)
three times a day
TM transcendental meditation
TMO Telegraph money order
TNT Trinitrotoluene
(explosive)
TOEFL (acronym) Test of English as a Foreign Language
TQM total quality
management
TU Trade Union
Tue Tuesday
TULF Tamil United
Liberation Front
TV Television
TVP Textured vegetable protein
TWA Trans-World Airlines