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The word "the" in English is an article (sometimes called a determiner), the definite article.

  • The definite article indicates that the noun that follows is a specific person or thing.

The indefinite articles are "a" and "an", used to indicate that the noun that follows is not a specific person or thing.
  • The article "a" is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound;
  • The article "an" is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound.

Example uses:
I met the author of the book at a book signing. (a specific author)
I met the author of the book at a book signing. (a specific book)
I met the author of the book at a book signing. (a book signing not specified)
I met the author of the book at the book signing at Bookmart last month. (a specific book signing)

"The" is pronounced "thuh," except when it comes before a word that begins with a vowel, when it is pronounced "thee," as in the egg, the apple. Thuh egg, and thuh apple are incorrect.
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8y ago

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