Where and Where NOT to use article 'the'

We use 'the' when there is only one of something:

Have you ever crossed the equator? ( there is only one equator )

What's the longest river in Europe?

Our apartment is on the tenth floor

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina.

I'm going away at the end of this month

1. When we're talking about things or people in general, we do not use 'the':

I'm afraid of dogs. ( not the dogs)

Doctors are usually paid more than teachers

Do you know anybody who collects stamps?

Crime is a problem in most big cities ( not 'the crime')

Life has change a lot in the last thirty years  ( not 'the life' )

Do you like classical music/Chinese food/fast cars?

My favourite sport is football/skiing/athletics.

My favourite subject at school was history/ physics/ English

2. We say 'most people' / most books/ most cars, etc. ( not the most....)

Most shops accept credit cards ( not 'the most shops)

In general (without ‘the’)	Specific people or things ( with ‘the’)
I like working with people I like working with people who say what they think. ( not all people, but ‘people who say why they think’ is still a general idea Do you like coffee?            ( coffee in general ) Do you like strong black coffee?            ( not all coffee, but ‘strong black coffee’ is still a general idea )	I like the people I work with (= a specific group of people ) I didn’t like the coffee we had after dinner. (= specific coffee)

 3. We do not use 'the' with names of people ( 'Helen', 'Helen Taylor' etc.) In the same way; we do not use 'the' with most names of places. For example :

Continents Countries, states etc. Islands Cities, towns,etc. Mountains

Africa ( not ‘the Africa) , Europe, South America France ( not ‘the France’) Japan, Brazil, Texas Sicily, Bermuda, Tasmania Cairo, New York, Bangkok Everest, Etna , Kilimanjaro

But we use ‘the’ in names with Republic , Kingdom, States etc.

The Czech Republic                             The United Kingdom( the UK)

The Dominican Republic                       The United States of America (the USA )

• Have you been to Canada or the United States?