(1)(指已提到过或已知的人或物)(used before singular or plural nouns and noun phrases that refer to particular，specified persons or things)：There is a swimming pool and a river near our house but I prefer～swimming pool. 在我家附近有一个游泳池和一条河，我更喜欢去那个游泳池游泳。Turn～light/gas/water on (off). 把灯/煤气/水打开(关上)。How's～neck/leg today?(你的)脖子/腿今天感觉怎么样?～book/paper you want 你要的那本书/那张报;

(2)(用于有限制性短语修饰的名词前)(mark a noun as indicating the most approved，most important，etc)：～skiing/business center of the U. S. 美国的滑雪/商业中心;～event of 1981/this century 1981年/本世纪的重大事件;～life for me 我要过的生活;

(3) 1)(指独一无二的事物)(used to refer to a unique object or unique objects)：～sun/moon/stars 太阳/月亮/星星;～world/earth/universe 世界/地球/宇宙;～east/south/west/north 东/南/西/北; 2)(用于表示自然现象的名词前)(used before nouns that indicate natural phenomena)：T～sky/weather was fine. 天空晴朗/天气很好。T～atmosphere was stuff. 气氛令人窒息。3)(用于江河、海洋、山脉的名称前)(used before the name of an unique object， esp a river，an ocean，a mountain，etc)：～Yangtse/Yellow/Rhine River 长江/黄河/莱茵河;～Pacific Ocean 太平洋;～Alps/Himalayas 阿尔卑斯/喜马拉雅山;

(4)(用在形容词前指一类人或事物等)(used with an adj to refer to all members of a class or nationality;or refer to an abstract idea)：～rich/poor/sick/dead 富人/穷人/病号/死者;～French/English 法国/英国人;～impossible/beautiful 不可能的事/美丽的事物;

(5)(表示广为人知的或重要的人或物)(used before a title or rank or office indicating its holder)：～Queen of Denmark 丹麦女王;Peter～Great彼得大帝;His boat is called “T～Adventurer”. 他的船称为“冒险号”。Is he～Judge Brown? 他就是大名鼎鼎的布朗法官吗?

(6)(用于单数的可数名词前统指类别)(used with a singular noun to refer to all members of a group，class，type，etc，or to a general type of object，group of objects)：T～cat is a very independent animal. 猫是独立性很强的动物。T～dog is a quadruped. 犬是四足动物(尤指哺乳动物)。invent～wheel/compass 发明了车轮/指南针;

(7)(用在first，last，next 以及形容词最高级之前)(used with superlative adjs to refer to a person，thing which shows more of sth than any other)：～first/next/last thing I said 我首先/接着/最后说的一件事;hear～latest news/most amusing thing 听到最新消息/最有趣的事情;～best day of one's life 某人一生中最美好的一天;

(8)(和表示数量的名词连用)(used in front of a unit of measure referring to a unit of quantity to mean “per” or “each”)：be paid by～hour/week 按小时/星期付酬;be sold by～dozen 按打卖;sell potatoes by～kilo/cloth by～metre 论公斤卖土豆/米卖布;This car does 30 miles to～gallon. 这辆车用一加仑汽油可行驶30公里。

(9)(用在乐器前)(used with musical instruments)：play～piano/violin 弹钢琴/拉小提琴;

(10)(和某些数词连用，表示“……十年代”)(used to indicate one particular decade of a lifetime or of a century)：rural life in～1930's 20世纪30年代的农村生活;This type of music was very popular in the～1960's. 这类音乐在20世纪60年代非常流行。

【用法】 1)抽象名词前除有所指，否则不用the，如：Life is difficult.(生活艰难。)但The life of a writer is difficult.(作家生活艰难。) 2)物质名词前除有所指，否则不用the，如：She gave us beer and cheese. I drank the beer.(她给我们拿出啤酒和乳酪，我喝了啤酒。)3)三餐前一般不用the，如：have breakfast/lunch/supper(吃早/午/晚餐)，但我们要说 “The breakfast she gave us was good.”(她给我们吃的早餐不错。) 4)带介词的时间名称前一般不用the，但有所指时要用the，如：on Monday(在周一)，但“on the Monday after Christmas”(圣诞节后的周一);

【读音】the在辅音前读/ ð ǝ/;在元音前读/ ði： /。