Correct use of "The"

Definite Article: the
The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is particular or specific. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group.
 Examples:

The dog (that specific dog) is barking.
The apple (that specific apple) is big.

DO NOT USE THE BEFORE:
- names of countries except the Netherlands, the Philippines and the US.

 Examples:
The Italy
The Germany
The United States

- names of cities, towns, or states.
 Examples:
The Manila
I went to the Seattle.


- names of streets
 Examples:
The Main street
The Keele street


- names of lakes and bays except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes.
 Examples:
The Lake Erie
The Great Lakes


- names of mountains except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn.
 Examples:
The Mount Everest
The Mount Fuji
The Rockies
The Andes


- names of continents
 Examples:
The Asia
The Europe


- names of islands except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands.
 Examples:
The Easter Island
The Key West
the Hebrides
the Canary Islands


- The is NOT used with non-countable nouns referring to something in a general sense:

 Examples:

The Coffee is a popular drink.

The Japanese was his native language.

The Intelligence is difficult to quantify.


- names of languages and nationalities.

 Examples:

I can speak the Chinese.

Can you understand the English?

Are you the Russian?


- names of sports.

 Examples:

I can play the chess.

We played the basketball yesterday.


- names of academic subjects.

 Examples:

She flunked the Music.

Is the Math your favorite subject?


- names of seasons and months.

 Examples:

My birthday is in the October.

It's the winter.


- names of festivals and holidays.

 Examples:

They still celebrate the Chinese New year.

I will not go to work today because it's the Christmas.

DO USE THE BEFORE:
- names of rivers, oceans and seas.
 Examples:
The Nile River
The Pacific Ocean


- points on the globe.
 Examples:
The Equator
The North Pole


- geographical areas
 Examples:
The Middle East
The West


- deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas
 Examples:
The Sahara
The Persian Gulf
The Black Forest
The Peninsula


- with time expressions
 Examples:
the past
the present time


- used with non-countable nouns that are made more specific by a limiting modifying phrase or clause:

 Examples:

The coffee in my cup is too hot to drink.

The Japanese he speaks is often heard in the countryside.

The intelligence of animals is variable but undeniable.


- used when a noun refers to something unique (only one exists) or widely-known

 Examples:

the White House

the theory of relativity

the internet

the computer

the Mona Lisa


- superlatives

 Examples:

the highest temperature

the lowest rate