the is one of the 1000 most common headwords.
thank - the - then
the is on the New General Service List.

Pronunciation change

stressed, before a vowel
unstressed, before a consonant

Determiner change

Determiner
the

  1. (definite) (singular & plural) (count & non-count) Used, to show that you're talking about something that your listener will not mistake for another one.
    Compare "I read a book." and "I read the book."
  2. (definite) (singular & plural) (count & non-count) Used with a stress, to show that the word following is special.
    Are you the John Smith that I went to school with?
  3. (definite) (plural) Used with an adjective that acts like a noun to mean all of the people or things concerned.
    The poor need our help.
  4. (definite) Used with superlatives forms of adjectives and adverbs.
    You are the best.

Notes change

  • the is called "the definite article"