"on earth" vs. "on the earth"

[Alan]

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Hi,

Broadly we don't use the definite article before abstract nouns when they are not used with special reference as: Death comes to us all - The country was shocked by the death of their leader.

We do use the article generally before a noun of which, as far as we know, there is only one: the moon, the earth, the sun and so on. Mars and Saturn may be unique but they are in fact names of planets and would not attract a definite article.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Hariom4me]

Thanks Alan .

[Foreigner]

[Anglophile]

Casually looking at this thread, I feel like saying that it seems, to me, to be as follows:

The Earth is a planet different from the Mars and the Saturn. (In terms of the solar system - specific)

Now, can't we say without capitalizing and using articles 'We know that earth is different from mars and saturn'? (In terms of their being entities - general)

Of course, 'on earth' is a phrase being used for some sort of emphasis.

Coming to 'environment' I'd say it may not take the article in sentences like 'Among other things, environment also plays a major role in the growth of a child.'

(Yes, it is an admitted fact that 'articles' is a hard nut for foreign learners to crack)
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Anglophile
I know only one thing - that is that I know nothing.

[Beeesneees]

'We know that Earth is different from Mars and Saturn'? <-- correct
'We know that the Earth is different from Mars and Saturn'? <-- correct
The Earth is a planet different from the Mars and the Saturn. <-- incorrect
The Earth is a planet which differs from the Mars and the Saturn. <-- incorrect
The Earth is a planet which differs from Mars and Saturn. <-- correct
Earth is a planet which differs from Mars and Saturn. <--correct

'Mars' and 'Saturn' never take the article.
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[Anglophile]

[Anglophile]