对于很多英语基础较好的学生来说，语法可以不出错，词汇可以准确适用，但是对定冠词 "the" 的用法确总是捉摸不定。原因很简单 ，中文中没有类似 "the" 的词语。什么时候用the，什么时候不用the，大家通常只能靠“语感”来判断。
先来说说发音吧，"the" 什么时候读成 /ði:/， 什么时候读成 /ðə/ ?
1. the在元音因素(音标首字母是元音因素)前，读/ði:/.
the ice /ði: ais/
the MP / ði: em’pi:/
the hour /ði: auə/
2. the在辅音因素(音标首字母是辅音因素)前，读/ðə/
the snow /ðə snəu/
the university /ðə ju:nivə:siti/
the one-pound coin /ðə ‘wʌn’paund’k ɔ in/
3. 有时在犹豫或者想要强调一个单词时，其前也可读 / ði:/表示强调
He’s the/ ði:/ - just a moment - deputy assistant vice-president.
I’ve found the/ ði:/ present for Angela!
注意区分元音辅音的标准不是字母，而是音标。
鉴于“the”的用法通常bother的是基础较好的学生，我在这里就列举一些稍复杂的the的用法：
1. 泛指一类事物或人是通常不用the, 但是当我们需要把一些人或物形容成一个“单位”或“集体”的时候，通常加the。比较以下用法：
Nurses mostly work very hard.
The nurses have never gone on strike.
Stars vary greatly in size.
The stars are really bright tonight.
It’s difficult for railways to make a profit. (any railways)
The railways are getting more and more reliable. (our well-known railways)
She married Richard Burton, the actor. (a well-known person)
I’d like you to meet Cathy Parker, the novelist. (a well-known person)
New Zealanders don’t like to be mistaken for Australians.
The Australians suffered heavy losses in the First World War.
2. 描述自然环境及气候，the 表明大家都很熟悉正在谈话的内容。注意：nature, space, or society 表示泛指时不加冠词the .
My wife likes the seaside, but I prefer the mountains.
British people talk about the weather a lot.
I love listening to the wind.
3. the加单数可数名词，可说明某物是人们日常生活中的一部分，如the bus, the bath, the newspaper, or the hairdresser.
I have some of my best ideas when I’m on the bus.
Most of my friends go to the hairdresser two or three times a month.
Do you sing in the bath?
I’ve stopped reading the newspaper because it’s too depressing.
4. 有时the常用来说明谈话内容中不太确定的人或事物，如 the side of a road, the son of a man(who may have several sons), the wheel of a car等。
Lying by the side of the road we saw the wheel of a car. (not … a wheel of a car.)
She kicked him on the knee.
