THE

general words (indefinite) general words (definite)

Life is too short. I've read a book on the life of Bill Clinton.
I like flowers. I like the flowers in your garden.
People are friendly. The people in this village are friendly.

names of persons on the singular, family names in the plural

relatives
The Browns live in Chicago.
Peter and John live in London.
Aunt Mary lives in Los Angeles.

public buildings, institutions public buildings, institutions

Mandy doesn't like going to school. Mandy went to the school to collect her
Some people go to church on Sundays. little brother.
He went to prison. He went to the church to talk to the vicar.
He went to the prison.

names of countries in the singular; names of countries in the plural; regions

continents
the United States of America,
Germany, France the Netherlands
Africa, Europe, Australia the Highlands, the Middle East, the west of
Australia

single islands groups of islands

Corfu, Bermuda, Sicily the Bahamas, the British Isles, the Canaries

summits of mountains mountain ranges

Mount Whitney, Mount Everest the Rocky Mountains, the Alps

lakes oceans, seas, rivers

Lake Michigan, Loch Ness, Lake Balaton the Atlantic (Ocean)

the Mediterranean (Sea)
the Danube, the Nile, the Rhine, the Suez
Canal

parks, streets, towns name with of-phrase

Central Park, Hyde Park the Statue of Liberty, the Tower (of
42nd Street, Oxford Street, Cairo, New London), the Isle of Wight
York

months, days of the week (indefinite) months, days of the week (definite)

The weekend is over on Monday morning. I always remember the Monday when I had
July and August are the most popular an accident.
months for holidays. The August of 2001 was hot and dry.

means of transport (indefinite) means of transport (definite)

We go to school by bus. The bus to London leaves at 7.40.

It is expensive to travel by plane. The plane took off in time.