Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nobbyken]

Hi,

Even good Korean English speakers have trouble with the word "the", and when and where to use it.

Common mistakes are using when not required, and omitting when required.

Are there any simple rules to help learners use the "the" word correctly.

This is required more for my wife than students at present.

Thanks,
Ken

[shantaram]

If you are referring to something that is a definite article (e.g. you don't want just any pen, you want that pen over there) you use 'the'.

You do not use it if you are referring to a common noun (e.g. name of a person or placename).

However, my partner comes from Asia, and despite scoring 8.5/9 on IELTS for listening and reading (and 9/9 for speaking and writing), he still omits 'the' from the front of definite articles. So, he will say "Give me Pen" instead of "Give me the pen". Articles are one of the most difficult things for ESL speakers to learn.

[nobbyken]

Thanks for that.

A nice short explanation, not too complicated for learners.

[shantaram]

Sorry, I meant you do not use it if you are referring to a PROPER noun (e.g. names of people and places).

[spliff]

A plave or a thing of which there is only one of: The U.S....The Seoul library...