DETERMINERS - Definite article - The

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE

GENERAL RULES

Use the to refer to something which has already been mentioned. რაც უკვე ნახსენები იყო

On Monday, an unarmed man stole $1,000 from the bank. The thief hasn't been caught yet

Use the when you assume there is just one of something in that place, even if it has not been mentioned before.   არ იყო ნახსენები მარა ერთადერთია იმ ადგილზე

We went on a walk in the forest yesterday 

Use the in sentences or clauses where you define or identify a particular person or object. განსაზღვრა 
The man who wrote this book is famous

Use the to refer to people or objects that are unique  უნიკალური

• The sun rose at 6:17 this morning.
• The president will be speaking on TV tonight
• Clouds drifted across the sky

Use the before superlatives and ordinal numbers 

• This is the highest building in New York.
• This is the third time I have called you today

Use the with adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people

The French enjoy cheese

Use the with decades.

• He was born in the seventies.
• This is a painting from the 1820's

Use the with clauses introduced by only

• ou are the only person he will listen to.
• The only tea I like is black tea.

PROPER NOUNS

Use the with names of geographical areas, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands, canals, and oceans.

• They are travelling in the Arctic.
• Our ship crossed the Atlantic in 7 days.
• I will go on a cruise down the Nile.
• Hiking across the Rocky Mountains would be difficult

Use the with countries that have plural names

• I have never been to the Netherlands.
• Do you know anyone who lives in the Philippines?

Use the with countries that include the words "republic", "kingdom", or "states" in their names

• She is visiting the United States.
• James is from the Republic of Ireland.

Use the with newspaper names

• I read it in the Guardian.
• She works for the New York Times.

Use the with the names of famous buildings, works of art, museums, or monuments

• We went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa.
• I would like to visit the Eiffel Tower.
• I saw King Lear at the Globe.

Use the with the names of hotels & restaurants, unless these are named after a person.

• They are staying at the Hilton on 6th street.
• We ate at the Golden Lion.

Use the with the names of families, but not with the names of individuals.

• We're having dinner with the Smiths tonight.
• The Browns are going to the play with us.

WHEN NOT TO USE "THE"

Do not use the with names of countries (except for the special cases above).

• Germany is an important economic power.
• He's just returned from Zimbabwe.

Do not use the with the names of languages.
English uses many words of Latin origin

Do not use the with the names of meals.

• Lunch is my favorite meal.
• I like to eat breakfast early

Do not use the with people's names

Do not use the with titles when combined with names.

President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas

Do not use the after the 's possessive case

• His brother's car was stolen.
• Peter's house is over there.

Do not use the with professions

• Engineering is a well-paid career.
• He'll probably study medicine.

Do not use the with names of shops

• I'll get the card at Smith's.
• Can you go to Boots for me?

Do not use the with years

• 1948 was a wonderful year.
• He was born in 1995.

Do not use the with uncountable nouns

• Rice is an important food in Asia.
• Milk is often added to tea in England.
• War is destructive.

Do not use the with the names of individual mountains, lakes and islands

• Mount McKinley is the highest mountain in Alaska.
• She lives near Lake Windermere.
• Have you visited Long Island?

Do not use the with most names of towns, streets, stations and airports

• Victoria Station is in the centre of London.
• Can you direct me to Bond Street?
• She lives in Florence.
• They're flying into Heathrow.