Is there any rules of using definite article "The"?

Question

English-Grammar
Spoken English

Answer 1

Definite ariticles are used slightly differently in each language.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_%28grammar%29#Presence_in_various_languages
http://home.bluemarble.net/~langmin/miniatures/definitart.htm

Here are some "rules" and pointers about use of "the" in English:

http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/l2the.html
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslart.html#definite
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_%28grammar%29#Usage


As for pronunciation, to correct a previous answer, "thee" (long e) is used not only before words beginning with a vowel, but when the speaker wants to STRESS the word. ("On Friday nights this is THE place to be!" would pronounce "the" with a long e.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The#Use_and_pronunciation

Answer 2

Oh yes, there are.
THE is the definite article and is techincally an adjective (along with the two indefininte artticles 'a' and 'an'.

'The' is used for specific, singular and plural countable nouns (The pen - the pens; The elephant - the elephants; etc) and with Uncountable nouns (The water; The air; etc).

'The' is also used with specific collective nouns (The fleet of ships; The pack of wolves; etc).

Rarely, but correctly, 'the' is used along with Proper nouns (names of particular people and places). In such usage, one refers to the qualities of the person or place rather to the person or place directly.

'The' has two pronunciations.
1. The ordinary 'the' with the 'dh' sound which is used when the 'the' is used before a word that begins with a consonant sound.
2. The second pronuncuiation resembles 'Thee' and is used before a word that begins with a vowel sound.

Answer 3

"The" is usually used when you are speaking of a specific item instead of a general item.

The cat....the one that's right in front of you.
A cat...any cat.

The night was cold. (That night you are specifically talking about)
A night was cold. (Any night, we don't know which one)