Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[nawee]

Hi,

Why do we need "the" before words like "ground", "sky" or "land"?

E.g. Water falls to the ground/land.

Is it because it is considered as one and only (e.g. the whole sky/ground/land)?

Please help.

Nawee

[Kristea]

Hi again,

You got it! There is an understanding of one sky/ground/land whne you use it like that.

However, you will hear things like "a piece of land." So after prepositions "the" may not always be used. (Usually not used, but there are always exceptions.)

Hope that helps - Kristi
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