Practice
Speak English or speak the English?
Sign in to saveAt a reception desk, a visitor asks, "Do you speak English?" The question is about the language. A literature teacher might instead discuss the English of a nineteenth-century letter. That phrase points to a particular kind of English.
Use speak English when English is the language, and use the English of plus a clear description when you mean a particular variety or the language used in a text.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
She speaks English at work. /ʃiː spiːks ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ æt wɜːk/
The short answer
Say speak English when English names a language. Use the English only when a following phrase identifies a particular variety or body of language, such as the English of this contract or the English spoken in this region.
Mina speaks English and Arabic at work.
Why it works: English is the name of one language, so no article is needed.
5 more examples
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Luis speaks English with his customers.
English names the language used with the customers.
Not this:Luis
speaks the Englishwith his customers. What changes: The article is not natural when the general language is meant. -
The guide is written in clear English.
Clear describes the language, but English still names it generally.
Not this:The guide is written
in the English. What changes: The phrase sounds incomplete because no particular English has been identified. -
The class compared the English of two newspaper reports.
The phrase identifies the language used in particular texts.
Not this:The class compared
English of two newspaper reports. What changes: The article helps form the noun phrase about those specific reports. -
Her English improved after she joined the discussion group.
English can refer to someone's ability in the language.
Not this:Her
the Englishimproved after she joined the discussion group. What changes: Do not use the after a possessive word such as her. -
The researcher studied the English spoken in coastal towns.
The following words identify a regional variety.
Not this:The researcher studied
English spoken in coastal towns. What changes: This can be understood, but the article makes the specific variety clearer.
Read the full guide
First, ask whether you are naming a language or describing a particular use of that language. A language name normally has no article. The article becomes natural when English is followed by details that limit its meaning.
Name the language without an article
When English means the language, use it without a, an, or the. This is the usual pattern after speak, learn, and understand.
Can you speak English?
The question asks about ability in the language English.
Choose the natural form: They are learning ___ at school.
Use English: They are learning English at school.
Use the article for a particular variety
The English becomes useful when later words say which English you mean. The added phrase may name a place, a historical period, a writer, or a document.
The article explains the English of eighteenth-century legal writing.
Of eighteenth-century legal writing limits the meaning to a particular kind of English.
What makes the article natural in this sentence?
The phrase after of identifies a specific style and period of English.
Keep general language phrases simple
Use in English to name the language used for a message or activity. Use English before a noun when it describes the noun, as in an English course or an English teacher.
Please send the instructions in English.
The instructions use English. No particular variety is being named.
Which phrase fits: an ___ course?
Use English: an English course.
Do not add the after a possessive
Words such as my, your, her, and their already show whose language ability or writing you mean. Do not put the between a possessive word and English.
Your English is easy to understand.
Your identifies the person's English ability, so the article has no place here.
Correct the phrase: his the English is improving.
Say his English is improving.
Check whether the detail is necessary
The English of a text is useful when you are analyzing wording, style, or variation. If you only mean that someone can communicate in the language, use English alone.
The editor simplified the English of the safety notice.
The editor is discussing the wording in one notice, not the language in general.
Which form fits a job interview question about language ability?
Use Do you speak English? The question does not identify a special variety or text.
Before you go
Remember this
Use English with no article when you mean the language. Use the English only when you add information that identifies a particular variety, period, writer, or text. Check whether the extra words are doing real work before you add the article.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Speak English or speak the English?"
Should I say speak English or speak the English?
Say speak English when you mean the language in general. This is the normal phrase for language ability or communication. Speak the English sounds incomplete unless a following phrase identifies a particular variety, source, or period of English.
Luis speaks English with his customers.
Why can I say the English of a book?
The phrase the English of a book refers to the wording, style, or language used in that particular book. The words after of make the meaning specific. They show that you are not talking about English as a language in general.
Luis speaks the English with his customers.
Can I say my the English?
No. Use my English, your English, or her English when you mean a person's ability or use of the language. A possessive word already identifies the noun phrase, so an article does not follow it.
The guide is written in clear English.
Is in the English correct?
Usually no. Say in English when you name which language a message, course, or conversation uses. Use in the English of a particular document only when you are describing the wording or style of that named document.
The guide is written in the English.
When does English need the article the?
Use the article when English is part of a longer phrase that identifies a specific variety or body of language. Examples include the English of the play and the English spoken in the region. Do not add the for ordinary language ability.
The class compared the English of two newspaper reports.