Zero article or the with place names - the basics
Some general principles
- If a place name consists of an actual name, especially just one word, it usually takes no article:
Europe, France, Normandy, Paris, Montmartre
- If a place name includes a unit of political organisation (republic, kingdom, states etc), it usually takes the:
The United Kingdom, The Czech Republic, The United States
- If a place name includes a geographical or other descriptive feature (islands, sea, river etc), it usually takes the:
The Baltic Sea, The River Seine, The Kalahari Desert
- This is also the case when this feature is only implied:
The Phillipines (= The Phillipine Islands)
The Himalayas (= the Himalaya Mountains) - But this is not the case when the name consists of the singular word land:
Scotland, New Zealand, Newfoundland, Poland
- If a place name includes of, it takes the definite article:
The Straits of Gibraltar, The Bay of Biscay, The Isle of Man
The Museum of Modern Art - Note that we can often call places two ways, one without of and without the article, and one with of (usually more formal):
Poland / The Republic of Poland, Edinburgh University / The University of Edinburgh, Capri / The Isle of Capri
- When the first word of a place name is an adjective (as with most seas), we usually use the:
The Mediterranean (Sea), The Arabian Gulf (but there are exceptions, eg. Central Park)
- When a place name starts with a possessive, it usually takes no article:
St Paul's Cathedral, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Hudson's Bay
- When a place name starts with the name of the place where it is situated, it doesn't usually take an article:
Morecombe Bay, London Bridge
- Finally, note that there are lots of exceptions, and that some place names, especially buildings, schools are best learned individually.
| Continents, countries, regions, cities etc. | ||
| Zero article | The | |
| Geographical areas | Latin America | The Arctic, The Balkans |
| Points of the compass | Northern England | The East of England |
| Continents | Africa, Asia, Europe | (or) The Antarctic |
| Countries | Most countries, especially those with one word names France Countries ending in 'land' Scotland | Names which include organisational elements - kingdom, republic etc The United Kingdom Groups of islands The Phillipines A few others The Netherlands (1) |
| Regions, provinces, states, counties etc | Most regions etc Patagonia, Normandy | Some exceptions The Algarve (3) |
| Cities, towns | Most cities and towns London, Paris, Berlin | A few exceptions The Hague (4) |
| Geographical features - seas, rivers, mountains etc | ||
| Zero article | The | |
| Oceans, seas, rivers | All oceans, seas and rivers The Atlantic (Ocean) | |
| Channels, straits, canals | Mostly take 'the' The English Channel | |
| Bays, gulfs and capes | Preceded or followed by a noun - most bays and almost all capes Morecombe Bay | With 'of' - almost all gulfs The Bay of Biscay With a national adjective The Persian Gulf |
| Islands | Most single islands Tasmania sometimes there's a choice Skye | With 'isle of' the Isle of Wight the Isle of Skye Groups of islands The British Isles |
| Lakes | Most single lakes Lake Windermere | Groups of lakes The Great Lakes |
| Mountains and hills | Most single mountains (Mount) Everest | A few exceptions The Jungfrau (6) Mountain and hill ranges The Alps |
| Deserts | All deserts The Sahara (Desert) | |
| Forests | Simple names Sherwood Forest | With 'of' and adjectives The Forest of Dean |
| Streets, parks, buildings etc. | ||
| Zero article | The | |
| Streets etc | Most streets etc Oxford Street | A few exceptions The Strand (in London) (8) |
| Roads etc See note below | London Road | The London Road |
| Squares | Most squares, circuses etc Trafalgar Square | Sometimes when attached to something The Cathedral Square |
| Parks and gardens | Simple names Hyde Park | Descriptive The Botanical Gardens |
| National Parks - no apparent rules | Lake District National Park | The Peak District National Park |
| Palaces, castles etc | Most palaces and castles Buckingham Palace | Some exceptions The White House |
A note on street names in BritainAs well as Street, Avenue and Road, you might see any of the following:
Gardens, Park You might also see combinations: Park Gardens, Circus Gardens, Bank Lane The High StreetThe main street in a British town or London Borough is often simply called the High Street, or is preceded by the place name (without 'the'), eg. Kensington High Street. For this reason, the main chains of shops and banks that are found in main streets throughout the country are known as high street shops and high street banks
(The) London RoadThe main road leading out of a town often has the name of the town or city that it (eventually) leads to, especially London. In some places, this is called, for example, London Road,in others The London Road.
| ||
| Institutions | ||
| Zero article | The | |
| In general | Which one isn't important or is obvious She's gone to church She wants to go to university | A specific place The local parish church |
| Cathedrals and churches | Most churches Canturbury Cathedral | |
| Schools | Most schools Colyton Grammar School | Some exceptions The Rochester Grammar School |
| Universities (UK) We can often refer to the same university in two different ways | With a simple name Edinburgh University | more formally with 'of' The University of Edinburgh |
| Universities (US) Universities have unique names, some with 'the', some without | Washington University in St Louis | The University of Washington |
| Hospitals | Guy's Hospital as a patientHe's in hospital | The Royal Infirmary As a visitor or as a professionalShe's gone to the hospital to visit her aunt |
| Places of entertainment | ||
| Zero article | The | |
| In general, as a place | We're going to the cinema | |
| Theatres and opera houses | Names with possessives Sadler's Wells (Theatre) Simple place names Glyndebourne (Theatre) | Most theatres etc The Aldwych (Theatre) |
| Note - Some famous theatres are known both by their place names, and by their official name | Covent Garden | = The Royal Opera House |
| Cinemas | The Odeon (cinema) | |
| Concert Halls - vary | Carnegie Hall | The Albert Hall |
| Museums and galleries | Some exceptions Tate Modern | Most museums etc The Tate Gallery |
| Hotels | Most hotels The Ritz | |
| Pubs and restaurants - vary | Scott's Bar | The Black Swan |
| Other | ||
| Zero article | The | |
| Stations | Most stations Euston Station | |
| Airports | Most airports Heathrow | A few exceptions |
| Bridges | Most London bridges London Bridge | Others (The) Golden Gate Bridge |
| Miscellaneous notes | ||
| Zero article | The | |
| Compare simple names with names with 'of', or with the type of organisation, which tend to be more official or formal | Simple names Poland Russia | All names with 'of' The Republic of Poland The Russian Federation |
| A few names only exist in the 'of' version or with 'republic' etc | The Isle of Man The Czech Republic | |
|
Notes
1. The Netherlands - literally means 'the low lands' 2. The Gambia - called after the River Gambia 3. The Algarve - from Arabic, meaning 'the West' 4. The Hague - from Dutch, meaning 'The Hedge' 5. The City of London - the old part of London, now the financial centre 6. The Jungfrau - German for 'the young woman' 7. The Matterhorn - German for 'Meadow peak' 8. The Strand - a street in London called after a small river 9. The Mall - a street in London. A mall is a sort of esplanade for walking along 10. The High Street - if there is no town name, it usually takes the | ||
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Some groups of islands, mountains and hills are often referred to with a shorter plural version of their name
The Orkneys - The Orkney Islands | ||
Related posts
- The or zero article - Place names article quiz
- Indefinite articles - a or an?
- Random quizzes - articles - a few texts to test your skills at using articles
Links
- BBC Learning English
- Suite 101
- Useful English
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