48 Sentences With The: Guide To The Definite Article

Using the definite article can be tricky for students of English. Today we will craft 48 sentences with the in perfect English! From beginner English right up to advanced level. Use these many examples to go on and make your own sentences!

Sentences with the

Here are the first 10 sentences with the to practice. Read and repeat them all!

The people at the party were warm and welcoming.
We should visit the bakery for some fresh bread.
She enrolled in the university not far from her home.
The weather today is perfect for a picnic.
The animals at the zoo seemed restless today.
He collected the trash and recycled it promptly.
By the end of the month, the savings had grown significantly.
The train will take us directly to the city center.
The Netherlands is beautiful in spring.
She listened to the music and felt inspired.

What are definite articles?

If you would like to make a sentence with the, it is really important to first know what it is. Definite articles in English are the word “the,” which is used before a noun to specify that the particular noun is known to the reader. Essentially, “the” points to a specific item or individual that both the speaker and listener are aware of. For example, in the sentence, “Please close the door,” “the” indicates that both the speaker and listener know which exact door is to be closed. Here are additional guidelines on when to use “the”:

Definite article	Example
When both the speaker and listener know what is being referred to	“The dog barked loudly.”
Before a noun that has been previously mentioned	“I saw a cat in the yard. The cat was playing with a leaf.”
With singular and plural nouns when the noun is unique or there is only one of them	“The moon shone brightly in the night sky,” or “The stars are visible tonight.”
With superlatives and ordinal numbers	“She is the best player on the team,” or “He finished the race in the third position.”
With adjectives, to refer to a whole group	“The poor need assistance.”
With names of geographical areas, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands, canals, and oceans	“The Nile,” “The Himalayas,” “The Philippines,” “The Panama Canal,” and “The Atlantic Ocean.”
With countries that have plural names or contain words like “republic”, “kingdom”, or “states”	“The Netherlands,” “The United Kingdom,” “The United States.”
With names of families, but not with individual’s names	“The Smiths,” but “John Smith.”
With decades or centuries	“The 1960s,” “The 21st century.”
With adjectives to describe a class or category of things	“The rich,” “The elderly.”
Before a noun to indicate something specific within a category or class	“The cell phone that you bought is over there.”
When talking about a system or service	“The internet,” “The healthcare system.”

After taking on board these points, I think you will be able to make more accurate sentences with the

Note: “The” is not used with uncountable or plural nouns when talking about things in general: “Cars are expensive,” not “The cars are expensive,” unless speaking about specific cars that the speakers know about. Another thing to remember is that there are exceptions to these guidelines, and the use of the article “the” can sometimes depend on the context of the sentence and the speaker’s intent.

Sentences with the: part 2

Here are the second lot of sentences with the:

We got tickets to the movies for Friday night!
After the surgery, his health improved dramatically.
We need to set the clock back for daylight saving time.
The coast of Namibia is very vast and beautiful.
The restaurant served the best seafood in town.
The chef demonstrated the art of cooking a perfect steak.
On Saturdays, the flea market is bustling with shoppers.
They got a new TV, and to make things easier, they followed the instructions.
The book on the shelf is about ancient civilizations.
During the match, the crowd cheered loudly for the underdogs.

Sentences with the: simple English

Here are some easier sentences with the suitable for beginners in English:

The cat sat on the mat.
The dog ran.
The weather is hot.
The ice cream is nice!
The beach is beautiful.

Definite article examples: advanced English

Now here are some definite article examples that are written in advanced English, good for experienced students of the language.

I visited the city center the other day and was blown away with how developed it had become!
I learned the hard way that you need to study extensively to get into university!
Understanding the nuances of the English language can greatly enhance your communication efforts!
The way he was acting seemed a little off. It turned out he was a shoplifter.
The Amazon rainforest is a center of biodiversity and one that we have to protect!

Sentences with the: FAQs

Here are some common questions that pop up when it comes to making sentences with the:

How do you pronounce ‘the’ in front of a vowel?

When ‘the’ comes before a vowel sound, it’s usually pronounced as ‘thee’ (/ðiː/) to make it easier to say and to create a clear separation between words. For instance, in the sentence “The apple is red,” ‘the’ would be pronounced as ‘thee’ to smoothly transition to the vowel sound that starts ‘apple’. Some more examples of “thee” are as follows:

The apple was ripe and juicy.
The elephant is an enormous creature.
The ocean covers most of the Earth’s surface.
The incident occurred unexpectedly.
The opera was an exquisite experience.

Can you start a question with the word ‘the’?

Yes, you can start a question with the word ‘the’. This is common when asking for specific information about a known subject. For example: “The cake you bought yesterday, was it chocolate or vanilla?” Starting with ‘the’ emphasizes that the question is about a particular cake that both the speaker and listener are aware of. Here are a few more examples of starting a question using the definite article:

The book you were reading last week—did you find it informative?
The instructions on the box—are they clear enough to follow?
The message you left me this morning—was it urgent?
The jacket you wore yesterday—where did you buy it?
The song that was playing during our dinner—do you remember its name?

The person in question meaning

The phrase “the person in question” refers to a specific individual being discussed or considered in a conversation or context. It’s used to single out that person from others. For instance, if you say, “The person in question left their briefcase behind,” you are talking about a particular person whose briefcase was left, and not anyone else’s. Here are a couple more example sentences:

The person in question needs to admit their mistake!
We found the lost book, and now we just have to give it back to the person in question.
The person in question was really happy with the surprise party.
It’s the birthday of the person in question today, so let’s sing a song for her!

That’s the way it is meaning

The phrase “that’s the way it is” suggests a state of acceptance regarding a situation, implying that it cannot be changed and must be accepted as is. It often conveys a sense of finality or resignation. For example, “It may be tough to hear, but that’s the way it is. The company is moving in a different direction.” This means that the situation is definitive and likely not open to negotiation. Here are a few more examples to practice saying:

Sometimes we cannot change things; that’s the way it is.
The store closes at 8 PM every night, and that’s the way it is.
You must wear a helmet when riding a bike; that’s the way it is for safety.
It rains a lot in April, but that’s the way it is with spring weather.

Sentences with the: a very significant word

I hope you have enjoyed reading and repeating all of today’s sentences with the! As a recap, let’s go quickly and answer this: What is the significance of the word the? Why do we want to make a sentence with the?

Specificity: “The” is used to refer to a specific object or group of objects that the speaker and listener both know about, rather than any general item.
Uniqueness: It is used with singular and plural nouns that are unique or singular in their context, like “the moon” or “the Beatles.”
Clarifies reference: When a noun has already been mentioned or is about to be defined, “the” helps make it clear which particular thing is being talked about.
Highlights familiarity: Using “the” can show that the speaker expects the listener to be familiar with the noun being referred to, as it points to something previously discussed or commonly known.

Thanks for reading through this today, and I do hope that now you are more confident you need to make a sentence with the!