Theory

There are two ways you can pronounce the article “the”. Take a look at the rules.

Listen and repeat!

The table Listen to the recording: link.

The apple Listen to the recording: link.

Exercise 1

Read those sentences, listen and check if you pronounced ‘the’ correctly!

• "Honey, I just talked to the doctor and she said I can take you home”

• "You said you did see something the other night"

• "And I've learned that the only way I can move to the next level of my awakening is if we all can somehow get past the incident.”

• "There are two people talking at once and I know that one of them is me. And the other is a blond girl. You.”

• "From now on, I'm gonna call you "the cheetah."

• "We’ll keep on fighting till the end. We are the champions, we are the champions. No time for losers cause we are the champions of the world." (start the video at 0:34)

• "It's the team's choice. It was their victory." "Team? Swim team. Hardly what I'd call a team. The Yankees, the A. Now, those were teams.”

• "That is the ugliest F-ing skirt I've ever seen.”

• "The best part was when you ragged on her clothes. She was like, "No, not the ensemble." "Ugh, those jeans with the little patches? She has no one to blame but herself.”

• "I'm Buffy by the way”

• "This is the end. Hold your breath and count to ten. Feel the Earth move and then hear my heart burst again for this is the end." (start playing the video at 0:14)

• "Let the sky fall when it crumbles." (start the video at 1:05)

• "I have some friends in the art game. Perhaps I can be of some help.”

• “Xander, I know you take pride in being the voice of the common wuss, but the truth is certain people are entitled to special privileges. They're called winners. That's the way the world works.”

Exercise 2

Read the following phrases and listen to the recordings.

• The orange Listen to the recording: link.

• The bottle Listen to the recording: link.

• The baby Listen to the recording: link.

• The other day Listen to the recording: link.

• The only one Listen to the recording: link.

• The tallest Listen to the recording: link.

• The ugly duckling Listen to the recording: link.

• The apple Listen to the recording: link.

• The building Listen to the recording: link.

• The office Listen to the recording: link.

• The teacher’s question Listen to the recording: link.

Exercise 3

Read the following sentences and listen to the recordings.

• I recommend you to try the onion soup at this restaurant. Listen to the recording: link.

• Can you tell me how to get to the cinema from here? Listen to the recording: link.

• The college is closed today. Listen to the recording: link.

• Gregory is one of the oldest people I know. Listen to the recording: link.

• An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Listen to the recording: link.

• I can't believe I failed the test! Listen to the recording: link.

• He is the best teacher in our school. Listen to the recording: link.

• What is the answer to the question? Listen to the recording: link.

• We live in a small house next to the church. Listen to the recording: link.

• Dad, can I borrow the other car? Listen to the recording: link.

• When we stayed at my grandmother’s house, we went to the beach every day. Listen to the recording: link.

• Look at the boy over there. Listen to the recording: link.

• We should tell the police. Listen to the recording: link.

• It’s the ugliest building in the town! Listen to the recording: link.

• I was looking for your book the other day and I accidentally found our old picture. Listen to the recording: link.

Exercise 4

Read those sentences, listen and check if you pronounced ‘the’ correctly!

• There is more to the universe than merely a smattering of galaxies in an ever-expanding emptiness. (start the video at 1:05)

• So first up we’ve got the university of Liverpool. Now truth be told I’ve heard good things about the nightlife in Liverpool. (start the video at 1:23)

• I’m not gonna lie, I thought we were done talking about ‘The One’ here on this channel. (start the video at 0:29)

 

• The history of the European Union in three minutes. (start the video at 0:03)

 

• "Thank you. Can I have some money for the yogurt?”

 

• "We have a new enemy. The young rebel who destroyed the Death Star.”

 

1. "Frankie, you don't have to wear the uniform here.”

Exercise 5

Read an excerpt from Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. Pay attention to the correct pronunciation of the article “the”. Then, listen to the recording and check! For the best results, stop the recording after each sentence and repeat it aloud.

Listen to the recording: link.

“Please come back and finish your story!” Alice called after it; and the others all joined in chorus, “Yes, please do!” but the Mouse only shook its head impatiently, and walked a little quicker. “What a pity it wouldn’t stay!” sighed the Lory, as soon as it was quite out of sight; and an old Crab took the opportunity of saying to her daughter “Ah, my dear! Let this be a lesson to you never to lose your temper!” “Hold your tongue, Ma!” said the young Crab, a little snappishly. “I wish I had our Dinah here, I know I do!” said Alice aloud, addressing nobody in particular. “She’d soon fetch it back!” “And who is Dinah, if I might venture to ask the question?” said the Lory. Alice replied eagerly, for she was always ready to talk about her pet: “Dinah’s our cat. And she’s such a capital one for catching mice you can’t think! And oh, I wish you could see her after the birds! Why, she’ll eat a little bird as soon as look at it!”

Read more here: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11

Listen to the recording: link.

Example 1

Read these sentences. Imagine that you really want to emphasise the word “spy”.

"(Do) you think Fury's hiding something?" "He's a spy. Captain, he's "the" spy. His secrets have secrets.”

Example 2

Read these sentences. Imagine that you really want to emphasise the word “vampire”.

"She was lonely and she didn't know he was a vampire. The vampire.”