# The Article the: Rules and Examples | SwaVid

The article the: rules, worked examples and a quick check for Class 6 to 12 English grammar, CBSE and ICSE. Free practice on SwaVid.

Canonical: https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/articles-and-determiners/the

Source: https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/articles-and-determiners/the

# The article the: rules and examples

## The rule, step by step

## Check yourself

## Frequently asked questions

## Keep practising

### Key ideas

### What is the rule for the article the?

### What is the main idea to remember in the article the?

### How do I get the article the right?

### Free English grammar test

### More in Articles and Determiners

Short answer. A, an and the are articles. Use a or an when you first mention a thing. Use the when both you and the listener know which one you mean.

1 . Choose the article. I bought a pen. ___ pen is blue.

2 . Choose the article. Mount Everest is ___ highest peak on Earth.

A, an and the are articles. Use a or an when you first mention a thing. Use the when both you and the listener know which one you mean.

First time: a or an. Known already: the.

Known to both of you. Sometimes both people know the thing without talking about it before, because it is clear from the place.

Your child's level and 3 topics to fix first.

All the topics in this chapter, one rule at a time.

- Already mentioned . The first time, say a or an. After that, the listener knows which one, so say the.
- Known to both of you . Sometimes both people know the thing without talking about it before, because it is clear from the place.
- Part of something mentioned . Once a thing is mentioned, its parts are known too. So a part takes the.
- A or an for a new thing . For a new thing, choose a or an by the next sound: an before a vowel sound, a before a consonant sound.
- More uses of the . The is an article. Use the for one of a kind, like the sun. Use the before a superlative, like the tallest. Use the for rivers, seas, oceans and mountain ranges.
- First time: a or an. Known already: the.
- Only one, the best or biggest, or a river, sea or range: use the.

## Key Links

- [English grammar](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar)
- [Articles and Determiners](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/articles-and-determiners)
- [Start free →](https://www.swavid.com/signup)
- [Practise 30 more questions free →](https://www.swavid.com/signup)
- [15 Free English grammar test Your child's level and 3 topics to fix first.](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/test)
- [More in Articles and Determiners All the topics in this chapter, one rule at a time.](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/articles-and-determiners)