the

definite article

1. （指已提到或易领会到的人或事物）
   used to refer to sb/sth that has already been mentioned or is easily understood
   1. There were three questions. The first two were relatively easy but the third one was hard.
      有三个问题。头两个相对容易，第三个困难。
   2. There was an accident here yesterday. A car hit a tree and the driver was killed.
      昨天这里发生了一起事故。一辆小轿车撞到树上，驾车的人死了。
   3. The heat was getting to be too much for me.
      天气热得快让我受不了了。
   4. The nights are getting longer.
      夜越来越长。
2. （指独一无二的、正常的或不言而喻的人或事物）
   used to refer to sb/sth that is the only, normal or obvious one of their kind
   1. the Mona Lisa
      《蒙娜丽莎》
   2. the Nile
      尼罗河
   3. the Queen
      女王
   4. What's the matter?
      怎么回事？
   5. The phone rang.
      电话铃响了。
   6. I patted her on the back.
      我拍了拍她的背。
   7. How's the (= your) baby?
      宝宝好吗？
3. （解说时用）
   used when explaining which person or thing you mean
   1. the house at the end of the street
      街尽头的房子
   2. The people I met there were very friendly.
      我在那里遇到的人很友善。
   3. It was the best day of my life.
      这是我一生中最美好的一天。
   4. You're the third person to ask me that.
      你是第三个问我那件事的人。
   5. Friday the thirteenth
      十三号，星期五
   6. Alexander the Great
      亚历山大大帝
4. （用以泛指）
   used to refer to a thing in general rather than a particular example
   1. He taught himself to play the violin.
      他自学拉小提琴。
   2. The dolphin is an intelligent animal.
      海豚是聪明的动物。
   3. They placed the African elephant on their endangered list.
      他们把非洲大象列为濒危动物。
   4. I heard it on the radio.
      我从收音机里听到了这件事。
   5. I'm usually out during the day.
      白天我通常不在家。
5. （与形容词连用，指事物或统称的人）
   used with adjectives to refer to a thing or a group of people described by the adjective
   1. With him, you should always expect the unexpected.
      在他身上你应随时料到有意想不到的事情发生。
   2. the unemployed
      失业者
   3. the French
      法国人
6. （用于姓氏的复数形式前，指家庭或夫妇）
   used before the plural of sb's last name to refer to a whole family or a married couple
   1. Don't forget to invite the Jordans.
      别忘了邀请乔丹一家。
7. （指特定用途的事物）足够，恰好
   enough of sth for a particular purpose
   1. I wanted it but I didn't have the money.
      我想买那东西，但钱不够。
8. （与计量单位连用）每，一
   used with a unit of measurement to mean ‘every’
   1. My car does forty miles to the gallon.
      我的车每加仑汽油跑四十英里。
   2. You get paid by the hour.
      你领的是时薪。
9. （与时间单位连用）当前的，本，此
   used with a unit of time to mean ‘the present’
   1. Why not have the dish of the day?
      为什么不吃今天的精选菜？
   2. She's flavour of the month with him.
      她是他眼下的红人。
10. （重读，表示所指的为知名或重要的人或事物）
    used, stressing the , to show that the person or thing referred to is famous or important
    1. Sheryl Crow? Not the Sheryl Crow?
       雪瑞尔∙克劳？而不是大名鼎鼎的雪瑞尔∙克劳？
    2. At that time London was the place to be.
       那时候伦敦是不可不去的地方。

The is the definite article. It is used at the beginning of noun groups. The is usually pronounced /ðə/ before a consonant and /ði/ before a vowel, but pronounced /ðiː/ when you are emphasizing it. the 是定冠词，用于名词短语前。辅音前发 /ðə/，元音前发 /ði/，强调时发 /ðiː/。


1. DET (用于名词短语之前，指代已经提及或指明的人或物)
   You use the at the beginning of noun groups to refer to someone or something that you have already mentioned or identified.
   1. A waiter came and hovered. John caught my look and we both got up and, ignoring the waiter, made our way to the buffet...
      一个侍者走了过来，候在附近。约翰领会了我的眼神，我们两个都站了起来，没有理睬那个侍者，朝自助餐台走去。
   2. Six of the 38 people were Russian citizens.
      38 个人中有 6 个是俄罗斯公民。
2. DET (当名词后接 of 短语或表明身份的从句时，该名词前用the)
   You use the at the beginning of a noun group when the first noun is followed by an 'of' phrase or a clause which identifies the person or thing.
   1. There has been a slight increase in the consumption of meat...
      肉类消费量略有增长。
   2. Of the 9,660 cases processed last year, only 10 per cent were totally rejected.
      去年受理的 9,660 宗案件中，只有 10% 被完全驳回。
3. DET (用于某些表示人们共有经历的名词前)
   You use the in front of some nouns that refer to something in our general experience of the world.
   1. It's always hard to speculate about the future...
      未来一向很难预测。
   2. Amy sat outside in the sun...
      埃米坐在外面太阳底下。
   3. He lay in the darkness, pretending to sleep.
      他躺在黑暗中，假装睡觉。
4. DET (用于和日常生活相关的人、物、服务、机构的名词前)
   You use the in front of nouns that refer to people, things, services, or institutions that are associated with everyday life.
   1. The doctor's on his way...
      医生正在路上。
   2. Who was that on the phone?...
      刚才打电话的是谁啊？
   3. You're old enough to travel on the train by yourself...
      你长大了，能一个人坐火车了。
   4. They have a generator when the electricity fails...
      他们有一台发电机，以备停电时所需。
   5. Four executive journalists were detained for questioning by the police today...
      警察今天拘留了 4 名执行记者进行讯问。
   6. He took a can of beer from the fridge.
      他从冰箱里取出一罐啤酒。
5. DET (用于代替所有格限定词，尤在谈论身体某一部分或家庭某一成员时)
   You use the instead of a possessive determiner, especially when you are talking about a part of someone's body or a member of their family.
   1. 'How's the family?' — 'Just fine, thank you.'...
      “家里人都好吧？”——“都好，谢谢。”
   2. I patted him on the head...
      我拍了拍他的头。
   3. She took Gill by the hand.
      她拉起吉尔的手。
6. DET (用于单数名词前，表示一类人或事物)
   You use the in front of a singular noun when you want to make a general statement about things or people of that type.
   1. An area in which the computer has made considerable strides in recent years is in playing chess...
      近年来，计算机应用取得长足进步的一个领域是国际象棋。
   2. After dogs, the horse has had the closest relationship with man.
      除了狗以外，就数马和人的关系最密切了。
7. DET (谈论是否会演奏乐器时，用于乐器名称前)
   You use the with the name of a musical instrument when you are talking about someone's ability to play the instrument.
   1. Did you play the piano as a child?...
      你小时候弹过钢琴吗？
   2. She was trying to teach him to play the guitar.
      她在试着教他弹吉他。
8. DET (用于表示国籍的形容词和名词以谈论一国全体国民)
   You use the with nationality adjectives and nouns to talk about the people who live in a country.
   1. The Japanese, Americans, and even the French and Germans, judge economic policies by results.
      日本人、美国人，甚至法国人和德国人，都依据结果来评判经济政策的好坏。
9. DET (与 rich, poor, old, unemployed 等形容词连用，表示某一类人)
   You use the with words such as 'rich', 'poor', 'old', or 'unemployed' to refer to all people of a particular type.
   1. Conditions for the poor in Los Angeles have not improved.
      洛杉矶穷人的境况仍未得到改善。
   2. ...care for the elderly and the disabled.
      对老人和残疾人的照顾
10. DET (用于姓氏的复数前，表示一家人或夫妻)
    If you want to refer to a whole family or to a married couple, you can make their surname into a plural and use the in front of it.
    1. ...a 400 acre farm owned by the Allens...
       艾伦家的一个面积为 400 英亩的农场
    2. The Taylors decided that they would employ an architect to do the work.
       泰勒家决定雇个建筑师来干这个活。
11. DET (用于形容词前，表示其修饰的某个事物)
    You use the in front of an adjective when you are referring to a particular thing that is described by that adjective.
    1. He knows he's wishing for the impossible...
       他清楚他在期盼一件不可能发生的事。
    2. I thought you might like to read the enclosed.
       我想你或许想要读一下信封里的内容。
12. DET (表示拥有为某一特定目的所需的足够的某物)
    You use the to indicate that you have enough of the thing mentioned for a particular purpose.
    1. She may not have the money to maintain or restore her property...
       她可能没有足够的钱来维护或修葺她的房产。
    2. We must have the patience to continue to work until we will find a peaceful solution...
       我们一定要耐下心来继续努力，直到找出和平的解决方案为止。
    3. Carl couldn't even raise the energy for a smile.
       卡尔就连挤出一丝微笑的力气都没有了。
13. DET (与某些称号、地名和其他名称连用)
    You use the with some titles, place names, and other names.
    1. The company was alleged to have leaked the news to the Daily Mail.
       据称，那家公司将消息透露给了《每日邮报》。
    2. ...the Albert Hall...
       艾伯特音乐厅
    3. The King has already agreed that the President of the Nepal Congress should be the Prime Minister.
       国王已经同意由尼泊尔大会党主席担任首相。
14. DET (用于序数词前)
    You use the in front of numbers such as first, second, and third.
    1. The meeting should take place on the fifth of May...
       会议将会于 5 月 5 日举行。
    2. Marco Polo is said to have sailed on the Pacific on his way to Java in the thirteenth century...
       据说，13 世纪时，马可·波罗在去爪哇岛的途中在太平洋上航行过。
    3. One ferry operator 'Sealink' said it was now running a full service for the first time in five weeks.
       “海联”轮渡公司称，这是其 5 个星期以来头一次全面运营。
15. DET (用于表示年代的数字前)
    You use the in front of numbers when they refer to decades.
    1. It's sometimes hard to imagine how bad things were in the thirties.
       有时很难想象 30 年代的日子有多么困难。
16. DET (用于形容词和副词的最高级前)
    You use the in front of superlative adjectives and adverbs.
    1. Brisk daily walks are still the best exercise for young and old alike...
       不管年轻人还是老人，每天快步行走仍是最好的锻炼方式。
    2. The Mayor of West Berlin described the Germans as the happiest people in the world...
       西柏林市长称德国人是世界上最幸福的人。
    3. This engine uses all the most modern technology...
       这个发动机汇集了现代最顶尖的科技。
    4. The third girl answered the most audibly.
       第三个女孩回答的声音最响亮。
17. DET 越…越…(用于两个比较级前，表示其中一个随另一个发生量或质的变化)
    You use the in front of each of two comparative adjectives or adverbs when you are describing how one amount or quality changes in relation to another.
    1. The longer you have been in shape in the past, the quicker you will regain fitness in future...
       过去健美身形保持的时间越长，将来身材恢复得就越快。
    2. The more confidence you build up in yourself, the greater are your chances of success.
       树立的自信心越强，成功的把握就越大。
18. DET 每，一(表示速度、价格、度量等)
    When you express rates, prices, and measurements, you can use the to say how many units apply to each of the items being measured.
    1. New Japanese cars averaged 13 km to the litre in 1981...
       1981 年，新型的日产汽车平均每升汽油能跑 13 千米。
    2. Some analysts predicted that the exchange rate would soon be $2 to the pound.
       一些分析人士预测，英镑对美元的汇率将很快达到1:2。
19. DET (表示某人或某物是同类中最有名、最重要或最好的。口语中 the 要重读；书面语中常加下划线或用大写、斜体)
    You use the to indicate that something or someone is the most famous, important, or best thing of its kind. In spoken English, you put more stress on it, and in written English, you often underline it or write it in capitals or italics.
    1. Camden Market is the place to be on a Saturday or Sunday...
       卡姆登市场是周末的最佳去处。
    2. 'Olympia is in America, where K Records was founded.' — 'No! Surely you don't mean THE K Records?'
       “奥林匹亚在美国，K 唱片公司就是在那里创立的。”——“不可能！你不会指那个大名鼎鼎的 K 唱片公司吧？”

1. A waiter came and hovered. John caught my look and we both got up and, ignoring the waiter, made our way to the buffet
   一个侍者走了过来，候在附近。约翰领会了我的眼神，我们两个都站了起来，没有理睬那个侍者，朝自助餐台走去。
2. Six of the 38 people were Russian citizens.
   38个人中有6个是俄罗斯公民。
3. There has been a slight increase in the consumption of meat
   肉类消费量略有增长。
4. Of the 9,660 cases processed last year, only 10 per cent were totally rejected.
   去年受理的9,660宗案件中，只有10%被完全驳回。
5. It's always hard to speculate about the future
   未来一向很难预测。
6. Amy sat outside in the sun
   埃米坐在外面太阳底下。
7. He lay in the darkness, pretending to sleep.
   他躺在黑暗中，假装睡觉。
8. The doctor's on his way
   医生正在路上。
9. Who was that on the phone?
   刚才打电话的是谁啊？
10. You're old enough to travel on the train by yourself
    你长大了，能一个人坐火车了。
11. They have a generator when the electricity fails
    他们有一台发电机，以备停电时所需。
12. Four executive journalists were detained for questioning by the police today
    警察今天拘留了4名执行记者进行讯问。
13. He took a can of beer from the fridge.
    他从冰箱里取出一罐啤酒。
14. 'How's the family?' — 'Just fine, thank you.'
    “家里人都好吧？”——“都好，谢谢。”
15. I patted him on the head
    我拍了拍他的头。
16. She took Gill by the hand.
    她拉起吉尔的手。
17. An area in which the computer has made considerable strides in recent years is in playing chess
    近年来，计算机应用取得长足进步的一个领域是国际象棋。
18. Did you play the piano as a child?
    你小时候弹过钢琴吗？
19. The Japanese, Americans, and even the French and Germans, judge economic policies by results.
    日本人、美国人，甚至法国人和德国人，都依据结果来评判经济政策的好坏。
20. Conditions for the poor in Los Angeles have not improved.
    洛杉矶穷人的境况仍未得到改善。
21. The Taylors decided that they would employ an architect to do the work.
    泰勒家决定雇个建筑师来干这个活。
22. He knows he's wishing for the impossible
    他清楚他在期盼一件不可能发生的事。
23. She may not have the money to maintain or restore her property
    她可能没有足够的钱来维护或修葺她的房产。
24. The company was alleged to have leaked the news to the Daily Mail.
    据称，那家公司将消息透露给了《每日邮报》。
25. It's sometimes hard to imagine how bad things were in the thirties.
    有时很难想象30年代的日子有多么困难。
26. Brisk daily walks are still the best exercise for young and old alike
    不管年轻人还是老人，每天快步行走仍是最好的锻炼方式。
27. The longer you have been in shape in the past, the quicker you will regain fitness in future
    过去健美身形保持的时间越长，将来身材恢复得就越快。
28. New Japanese cars averaged 13 km to the litre in 1981
    1981年，新型的日产汽车平均每升汽油能跑13千米。
29. Camden Market is the place to be on a Saturday or Sunday
    卡姆登市场是周末的最佳去处。

definite article

the more, less, etc.…, the more, less, etc.…

• （用以表示两个事物按照同一程度变化）越…越，愈…愈
  used to show that two things change to the same degree
  1. The more she thought about it, the more depressed she became.
     她越想这事越沮丧。
  2. The less said about the whole thing, the happier I'll be.
     对整个事情议论得越少，我越高兴。