All (the) day

[Kco13]

Hello,

What is the difference between " I study all day" and "I study all the day"

[billmcd]

Hello,

What is the difference between " I study all day" and "I study all the day"

The difference is "the" (not usually used in this type statement).

[Kco13]

hahaha soo when do I have to use "the" ?
Thanks.

[billmcd]

hahaha soo when do I have to use "the" ?
Thanks.

All day, not all the day.

[TheParser]

when do I have to use "the" ?


NOT A TEACHER


(1) May I add a few words to the teacher's excellent answer to your excellent question?

(2) I have checked my books and the Web, and I am happy to share some ideas with you:

(a) Both "I study all day" and "I study all the day" are "correct" English.

(b) As the teacher told us, in the year of 2011 (2012!) most books tell us NOT to use the definite article in ordinary speech and writing.

(c) The definite article is still used occasionally in very elegant, poetic-like literature. Here are three examples I found for you. (The first two come from the Bible; the third comes from a magazine article)

(i) O Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life.
(ii) I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people.
(iii) The birds were making music all the day.

(d) And when I was a child, there was a popular song with these words:

"Singing Polly Wolly Doodle All the Day."