Level A1

Definite Article (the)

the points to a thing we both already know, and to the one there is only one of.

The dog is big.

Look: The dog is big. The thread goes to that same dog.

Forms

• I see a dog. — a: one thing, named for the first time
• The dog is big. — the: the same dog, now we both know it
• The sun is hot. — the: there is only one, we all know which

A common mistake

Wrong: Give it to cat.

Right: Give it to the cat.

Here you need the: we both know which cat, ours. We say: Give it to the cat.

More examples

The cat is hungry.

The same cat again, so again the: The cat is hungry.

We live in the country.

Outside the city, where there are fields and villages, is the country: We live in the country.

Mistakes explained in clips