The or The?

Kosmiche · 8 Sep 2012 at 14:38

Simple question, do you say THEE or THE?

Do you alternate? When should you use one or the other is there a rule?

I use both but I was wondering if there's a rule about using one or the other in different situations.

Thee, The...FIGHT!

Belmit · 8 Sep 2012 at 14:41

I only say 'thee' when the proceeding word starts with a vowel, in general.

squarebutt · 8 Sep 2012 at 14:45

Never realised about the vowel thing, but it does seem right, like "the car" and "thee apple"

But where I come from its just a silent "t" like going to t'car or bitten t'apple.

PermaBanned · 8 Sep 2012 at 14:46

I alternate, you never know which ones going to come next! My brain probably has some sort of pattern. I've noticed that if i'm talking about something that i can't remember the name of it will always be "thee erm..."

Theophany · 8 Sep 2012 at 14:50

Usually 'thee' preceding words with a first letter vowel. Unless using it emphatically, so "'thee' car to beat" to suggest it is the best or only in some way.

asim18 · 8 Sep 2012 at 14:59

I usually say "thee" if I'm looking for emphasis.

Kosmiche · 8 Sep 2012 at 15:03

Yeah you wouldn't use thee before a word beginning with a consonant.

That sounds ridiculous.

I have never thought of it like that before though and I just say thee or the automatically.

estebanrey · 8 Sep 2012 at 15:04

You use 'thee' when clarifying if someone means the most well known definition of it. e.g. "I saw Michael Johnson today", "What? 'Thee' Michael Johnson?".

DirtyJester · 8 Sep 2012 at 15:04

I only use thee in poems.....

shifty_uk · 8 Sep 2012 at 15:06

I've asked this exact question on the forum before to be met with general comments which assumed I was an idiot for saying thee most of the time

..but yeah, thee for emphasis or along with particular words.

SpaghettiOs · 8 Sep 2012 at 15:08

It's exactly the same as alternating between 'a' or 'an' expect where it's used for emphasis.

Infidelus · 8 Sep 2012 at 15:31

asim18 said:
I usually say "thee" if I'm looking for emphasis.

Same, for emphasis.

"It's THEE only choice to make"

Mason- · 8 Sep 2012 at 15:35

SpaghettiOs said:
It's exactly the same as alternating between 'a' or 'an' expect where it's used for emphasis.

No.

PermaBanned · 8 Sep 2012 at 15:43

Infidelus said:
Same, for emphasis.

"It's THEE only choice to make"

I don't know why you'd ever want to emphasise "the." If anything in that sentence the emphasis would be on "only."

AHarvey · 8 Sep 2012 at 15:48

I can't say I've ever paid much attention but would hazard a guess that it's mostly THE that I use in general day to day chat.

Infidelus · 8 Sep 2012 at 17:45

PermaBanned said:
I don't know why you'd ever want to emphasise "the." If anything in that sentence the emphasis would be on "only."

You could pick either. That was just a random, hastily made sentence, but it works whichever way round you choose to use it.

genan · 8 Sep 2012 at 17:53

Belmit said:
I only say 'thee' when the proceeding word starts with a vowel, in general.

^This is how I remember it from THE/THE school.

jellybeard999 · 8 Sep 2012 at 18:04

asim18 said:
I usually say "thee" if I'm looking for emphasis.

This

wkingsnorth · 8 Sep 2012 at 18:06

Belmit said:
I only say 'thee' when the proceeding word starts with a vowel, in general.

I just realised that. Mind = Blown

Devrij · 8 Sep 2012 at 20:10

squarebutt said:
But where I come from its just a silent "t" like going to t'car or bitten t'apple.

Same. Up here there aren't any tough decisions about how to pronounce "the". The third option should be "neither".

The or The?

Man of Honour