The and thee are two words that are very close in spelling and are pronounced similarly, but have different meanings. We will look at the definitions and use of the words the and thee, the origins of these two words and finally, some examples of their use in sentences.
The is an article, which is an adjective that precedes a noun. Articles are also known as noun markers, as they signal that a noun or noun phrase is present. The is the only definite article in the English language. A definite article indicates a specific noun, usually a noun that is considered to be common knowledge, a noun that is unique or a noun that has been previously discussed. The is the most used word in the English language, it has been estimated that up to seven percent of words used in English speech and writing are the. The word the was derived from the Old English word þe, which evolved into se and sēo, and eventually the.
Thee is an archaic word for the pronoun you. Thee is the objective form of the archaic pronoun, thou. Today, the pronoun thee is only used in very specific circumstances. For instance, thee and thou are found in the plays of Shakespeare that are still performed today. The King James Version of the Bible, translated in 1611, is still quoted today. Many prayers and some formal rites employ the words thee and thou. The word thee is derived from the Old English word thē.
Examples
Cook’s visit follows last month’s unveiling of “Super Mario Run” for Apple devices, the first time Nintendo’s popular game franchise will be available on mobile gadgets. (Japan Times)
Based on the shape of the syrinx, the researchers believe the bird would have made honks like a modern duck. (The Washington Post)
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. (The New Bern Sun Journal)
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