A
When we are talking about things or people in genera, we do not use the:
– I’m afraid of dogs. (not the dogs)
(dogs = dogs in general, not a specific group of dogs)
– DOctors are paid more than teachers.
– Do you collect stamps?
– Crime is problem in most big cities. (not The crime)
– Life has changed a lot in the last 30 years (not The life)
– Do you like classical music / Chinese food / fast cars?
– My favorite sport is football/skiing/hokey.
– My favorite subject at school was history/physics/English.
We say “most people / most books / most cars,” etc. (not the most …):
– Most hotels accept credit cards. (not the most hotels)
B
We use the when we mean specific things or people.
Compare:
-—————————–
In general (without the)
- Children learn from playing. (= children in general)
- I couldn’t lie without music.
- All cars have wheels.
- Sugar isn’t very good for you.
- Do Americans drink much tea? (= Americans in general)
-—————————–
Specific people or things (with the)
– We took the children to the zoo.
(= a specific group, perhaps the speaker’s children)
– The movie wasn’t very good, but I liked the music. (= the music in the movie)
– All the cars in this parking lot belong to people who work here.
– Can you pass the sugar, please? (= the sugar on the table)
– Do the Americans you know drink tea?
(= only the Americans you know, not Americans in general)
-—————————–
C
The difference between “something in general” and “something specific” is not always clear.
Compare:
-—————————–
In general (without the)
- I like working with people. (= people in general)
- I like working with people who are lively.
(not all people, but “people who are lively” is still a general idea) - Do you like coffee? (= coffee in general)
- Do you like string black coffee?
(not all coffee, but “strong black coffee” is still a general idea)
-—————————–
Specific people or thing (with the)
- I like the people I work with.
(= a specific group of people) -
Did you like the coffee we had after dinner last night?
(= specific coffee)
-—————————–
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