Most names of people and places take no the, but names with Republic, Kingdom or States, oceans, seas, rivers, canals, deserts, plural names and phrases such as the north of take the.
A People and most places: no the
We do not use the with the names of people (Sian, Sian Pritchard). In the same way, we do not use the with most place names:
| Type of place | Examples |
|---|---|
| continents | Asia (not the Asia), Antarctica |
| countries, states, regions | Peru (not the Peru), Norway, Florida |
| islands | Crete, Anglesey |
| cities, towns | Lisbon, Glasgow, Rotherham |
| mountains | Snowdon, Ben Nevis |
We do normally use the in names containing Republic, Kingdom, States, Emirates and similar words: the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom (the UK), the United States (the US, the USA), the United Arab Emirates (the UAE).
- Have you ever been to Peru?
- Glasgow is bigger than Edinburgh, whatever Edinburgh may tell you.
- Are you flying to Canada or the United States?
- She's lived in the UK since she was six.
B Titles, Mount and Lake
When we put Mr, Mrs, Ms, Doctor, Professor, Captain, President and similar titles before a name, we do not use the: Mrs Begum, Doctor Price, Professor Okafor, President Lincoln. The same is true of Aunt Jean, King Charles, Saint David.
Compare: We rang the doctor. but We rang Doctor Price. (not the Doctor Price)
Mount and Lake before a name work in the same way: Mount Fuji, Mount Kenya, Lake Geneva, Lake Windermere (no the).
- We rang the doctor.
- We rang Doctor Price.
- Aunt Jean is coming for Christmas, along with her opinions.
- They have a caravan near the lake.
- They have a caravan near Lake Windermere.
C Oceans, seas, rivers, canals and deserts: the
We use the with the names of oceans, seas, rivers and canals:
| Oceans and seas | Rivers and canals |
|---|---|
| the Pacific (Ocean) | the Thames |
| the Arctic Ocean | the Danube |
| the North Sea | the Panama Canal |
| the Irish Sea | the Manchester Ship Canal |
We also use the with deserts: the Kalahari (Desert), the Atacama Desert.
- The ferry crosses the Irish Sea twice a day.
- We had a picnic on the banks of the Thames.
- The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on earth.
D Plural names: the
We use the with plural names of people and places:
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| families | the Patels (the Patel family), the Joneses |
| countries | the Netherlands, the Philippines, the United States |
| groups of islands | the Hebrides, the Maldives, the Scilly Isles |
| mountain ranges | the Pennines, the Pyrenees, the Rockies |
- The Joneses have gone to the Maldives for a fortnight.
- The highest point in the Pennines is Cross Fell.
- Manila is the capital of the Philippines.
E the north of ... and northern ...
We say the north (of Scotland) but northern Scotland, with no the. Likewise the southwest (of France) but southwestern France.
We also use north, south, east and west without the in the names of some regions and countries: North America, South Korea, East Africa, Western Australia.
On maps, the is not usually printed as part of the name, which is a convenience for cartographers and a trap for everyone else.
- Finland is in northern Europe. Portugal is in the west.
- We spent a week in the north of Wales.
- Most of the rain falls in western Scotland.
- My cousin emigrated to South Africa in 2010.
Exercises
77.1 Which is right? Choose the correct form.
Have you met ___ (Professor Okafor / the Professor Okafor)?
Professor Okafor
Have you met Professor Okafor?
I'd hurt my back. ___ (Doctor / The doctor) told me to rest it for a week.
I'd hurt my back. The doctor told me to rest it for a week.
___ (Doctor Mensah / The Doctor Mensah) is an expert on sleep problems.
Doctor Mensah is an expert on sleep problems.
I'm looking for ___ (Captain Hughes / the Captain Hughes). Is he on the ship?
I'm looking for Captain Hughes. Is he on the ship?
In France, ___ (President / the President) is elected for five years.
In France, the President is elected for five years.
___ (President Lincoln / The President Lincoln) was shot in 1865.
President Lincoln was shot in 1865.
The detective in charge of the case is ___ (Inspector Khan / the Inspector Khan).
The detective in charge of the case is Inspector Khan.
Have you met ___ (Patels / the Patels)? They've just moved in next door.
Have you met the Patels? They've just moved in next door.
Rhys spent two years working in ___ (United Arab Emirates / the United Arab Emirates).
Rhys spent two years working in the United Arab Emirates.
___ (Portugal / The Portugal) has a population of about ten million.
Portugal has a population of about ten million.
77.2 Some of these sentences are correct, but some need the (sometimes more than once). Write the correct sentence, or write OK if the sentence is already correct.
Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales.
OK
Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales.
Leeds and York are cities in north of England.
Leeds and York are cities in the north of England.
Leeds and York are cities in the north of England.
Asia is much bigger than Australia.
Asia is much bigger than Australia.
Last summer we went to Canada and United States.
Last summer we went to Canada and the United States.
Northern Italy is cooler than south.
Northern Italy is cooler than the south.
Peru and Bolivia are in South America.
Peru and Bolivia are in South America.
Our holiday cottage looks out over Lake Windermere.
Our holiday cottage looks out over Lake Windermere.
We're going walking in Scottish Highlands next spring.
We're going walking in the Scottish Highlands next spring.
UAE is made up of seven emirates.
The UAE is made up of seven emirates.
Maldives are a group of islands in Indian Ocean.
The Maldives are a group of islands in the Indian Ocean.
My cousin lives in Western Australia.
My cousin lives in Western Australia.
River Severn flows into Bristol Channel.
The River Severn flows into the Bristol Channel.
77.3 Here are some geography questions. Choose the answer from the box and use the if necessary. You will not need every name in the box.
Continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South AmericaCountries: Egypt, Finland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, United KingdomOceans and seas: Arctic, Atlantic, Baltic, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, North Sea, PacificMountains: Alps, Andes, Atlas Mountains, Himalayas, Pyrenees, RockiesRivers and canals: Amazon, Danube, Mississippi, Nile, Panama Canal, Seine, Suez Canal, Thames, Yangtze
What lies between Britain and Norway? the North Sea
What lies between Britain and Norway? The North Sea.
Where is Kenya?
Where is Kenya? In Africa.
Which river flows through Paris?
Which river flows through Paris? The Seine.
Of which country is Helsinki the capital?
Of which country is Helsinki the capital? Finland.
Of which country is Manila the capital?
Of which country is Manila the capital? The Philippines.
Which mountains lie between France and Spain?
Which mountains lie between France and Spain? The Pyrenees.
In which sea are Jamaica and Cuba?
In which sea are Jamaica and Cuba? The Caribbean.
Which continent is almost entirely covered in ice?
Which continent is almost entirely covered in ice? Antarctica.
Which is the largest ocean in the world?
Which is the largest ocean in the world? The Pacific.
What is the name of the ocean to the south of India?
What is the name of the ocean to the south of India? The Indian Ocean.
Which is the longest river in China?
Which is the longest river in China? The Yangtze.
Which river flows through New Orleans?
Which river flows through New Orleans? The Mississippi.
Of which country is Amsterdam the capital?
Of which country is Amsterdam the capital? The Netherlands.
What joins the Mediterranean and the Red Sea?
What joins the Mediterranean and the Red Sea? The Suez Canal.
In which mountains is Everest?
In which mountains is Everest? The Himalayas.