Streets with or without articles in English. Articles before proper names in English

Articles in English are one of the basic topics. However, they often cause difficulties for students. After all, there are no articles in the Russian language, and we don’t understand when to use them and when not to.

Articles before geographical objects (cities, countries, etc.) are part of this larger theme. In this article we will look at how to use them correctly.

Why are articles needed?

Article - it's a little tag that is placed in front of some words to make it easier for us to understand them. We do not translate articles into Russian. However, it is the article that is an indicator and helps us grasp information about the word. How? To answer this, let's look at the functions it performs.

The article performs the following functions:

• Shows what the object or creature in question. For example: table, chair, closet, cat, dog, student, teacher, etc.
• Shows that we are talking about something specific or general concept. Compare the following two sentences.

General: I want a car.
Specific: I want this red car.

There are two types of articles in English:

• definite - the- when we talk about something specific
• undefined - a/an- when it comes to a general concept

We looked at articles in detail in this article.

Articles with geographical names

Geographical name is a name that designates a specific geographical feature. For example: countries, mountains, islands, seas.

Before geographical names we put either the article the (since we indicate a specific object), or we do not put the article at all.

Let's look at this in detail.

1. Use of articles with country names

We use the article the when we talk about a country as a territory divided into several parts. This is called administrative division.

In such cases, the name contains the words: states, republic, federation, emirates, kingdom, etc.

That is, any words that show that this is a combination of several parts.

Let's look at an example:

We are talking the United Kingdom of Great Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain), since we mean unification. But we will say Great Britain - without the article.

We are talking the Russian Federation (Russian Federation), meaning the unification of several parts. But Russia - without an article.

Let's look at the table:

With the article the	Without article
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	Great Britain Britannia
the Kingdom of Denmark Kingdom of Denmark	Denmark Denmark
the Republic of Cuba Republic of Cuba	Cuba Cuba
the German Federal Republic Federal Republic of Germany	German Germany
the Russian Federation Russian Federation	Russia Russia
the Czech Republic Czech Republic	Czech Czech Republic
the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China	China China
the United States of America United States of America	America America
the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates	Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates

2. Using the article with city names

It's very simple here. Remember, we do not put an article before the names of cities, states and villages.

Moscow - Moscow
Berlin - Berlin
Kiev - Kyiv
London - London
Beijing - Beijing
Amsterdam - Amsterdam
Paris - Paris
Rome - Rome

The exceptions are cities that are a state. For example, the Vatican.

3. Using the article with the names of seas, rivers, oceans

Before all water we use the article the. That is, this includes:

• oceans
• straits
• channels
• currents

For example:

the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean

the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean

the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

the Black Sea
Black Sea

the Red Sea
Red Sea

the Volga
Volga

the Don
Don

the Bosporus
Bosphorus Strait

the Bering Strait
Bering Strait

the Sea of ​​Japan
Sea of ​​Japan

4. Articles before mountain names

If we are talking about a mountain chain, that is, a connection of several peaks, then we put the article the.

For example:

the Andes
Andes

the Urals
Ural Mountains

the Alps
Alps

the Himalayas
Himalayas

If we are talking about a separate peak, mountain, volcano, then we do not use the article.

Elbrus
Elbrus

Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro

Vesuvius
Vesuvius

5. Articles with islands

Just like with mountains, if we are talking about a group of islands, then we put the article the:

the Canary Islands (the Canaries)
Canary Islands (Canary Islands)

the British Isles
British Isles

the Bahamas
Bahamas

If we mean individual islands, then the article is not used:

Cyprus
Cyprus

Madagascar
Madagascar

Jamaica
Jamaica

So, we looked at the use of articles with geographical objects. Now let's practice this.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

1. Are you going to London?
2. She lives in the United States of America.
3. She was born in Russia.
4. They visited Madagascar.
5. Don is a big river.

The use of articles with geographical names: countries, cities, names of continents, (semi-)islands, mountains, deserts and regions, names of natural water reservoirs (rivers, lakes, seas, oceans) and so on

In this lesson we will look at the use of articles with proper names. As you remember, there are two articles in English: definite and indefinite. And we can talk about the so-called “zero” article, that is, about cases when the article is not used.

We have already noted in the Elementary level lessons that the article performs a semantic distinguishing function. The presence or absence of an article can greatly affect the translation of a sentence. The article in English is the most ambiguous thing in English grammar. The article, more than other grammatical phenomena, is used “by intuition.” And to develop this intuition, you need to know the basic rules for using articles and exceptions. Only after this you will be able to freely navigate the articles.

Interestingly, the article can be used (or not used) even when it is prohibited by the rules! But only if you can explain Why You used one or another article. In newspapers and other literary sources you will come across aspects of the use of articles that were not described in textbooks. And most often this will not be a mistake. It’s just that not everything is covered in textbooks.

Having solid basic knowledge, you will easily understand the nuances of using the article. In the case of geographical names and titles, it cannot be said for sure that the article is used only this way and not otherwise. Therefore, when explaining rules, “usually” or “usually” is added.

Below is information about the classic use of the article.

As you already know, articles are usually not used with names of countries and cities.

But, there are exceptions:

1. The Hague (The Hague)

   countries (for historical reasons):

   The Sudan, The Yemen, The Argentina - these names of countries can be used without an article. Also The Netherlands (Netherlands), since the name has a plural for historical reasons.

   The Philippines (essentially the name of a group of islands)

   Countries whose names contain terms such as States, Republic, Federation, Kingdom... that is, not proper names: The United States of America, The United Kingdom, The Russian Federation. The definite article is also used with abbreviations of these names: The USSR.

   Note

   The definite and indefinite articles can be used with the names of cities and countries, but only in the presence of a special context.

   It was the Paris of my youth. This was (the same) Paris of my youth.

   "of my youth" is the context necessary for using the definite article.

   When he returned twenty years later, he found a new America. - When he returned 20 years later, he discovered (some kind of) new America.

Names of continents, (peninsulas), mountains, deserts and regions.

As a rule, when a geographical name has an ending -s, that is, an allusion to the plural, the definite article is used with it.

1. Names of continents: Africa, Europe, America. Even if these names are preceded by definitions, the article is still not used: Western Europe, Southern America.

   Mountain ranges and ridges: The Urals, The Alps, The Andes.

   The name of island groups is always preceded by a definite article: The Canaries (Canary Islands), The Kuriles (Kuril Islands).

   If there is only the name of the peninsula, then it is used without articles.

   Kamchatka is famous for its geysers.

   If after the name there is the word peninsular (peninsula), then the definite article is already placed before the name.

   The Taimyr peninsular is a very cold place.

   The names of individual mountain peaks and islands are used without articles.

   Mountains: Elbrus, Everest; Haiti, Cuba, Kilimanjaro.

   For historical reasons, the names of some regions are used with the definite article: The Crimea, The Caucasus, The Ruhr, The Tyrol.

   When the name of an area contains a plural or a common noun, then, as a rule, the definite article is used with such names: The Highlands, The Lake District, The Far East.

   The names of all deserts come with a definite article: The Gobi, The Sahara (desert), The Kara-Kum.

Names of natural water reservoirs:

1. The names of all rivers are used with the definite article:

   The Volga (The river Volga), The Don, The Thames.

   The names of all lakes are used with the definite article:

   The Seliger, The Baikal.

   But, if the word Lake is present before the name, then the definite article is not used - Lake Ilmen.

   The names of all seas, oceans, canals and waterfalls are accompanied by the definite article:

   The Black Sea, The Dead Sea; The Pacific Ocean, The Indian Ocean; The Suez Canal; The Victoria Fall, The Niagara Fall.

   But the names of the bays do not have articles.

   One of the first topics that should be learned or explained to an English language learner is the topic of articles. In English, the indefinite article (a\an) and the definite article (the) are used only in relation to the category of a noun. Therefore, before you start talking about the article, you need to learn the topics “Uncountable nouns in English” and “Singular and plural nouns in English”. After studying these topics, it will be easy for you to explain the rules for using the article, and for the student it will be easy and simple to learn the main points of using the definite article (the). So, the choice of article depends on the following factors:

   • the noun is used in singular form. number or plural number;
   • countable or uncountable noun;
   • whether it was mentioned in the speaker's previous speech or not.

   So, let's look at all the rules for using the definite article the

   The subject of the conversation is known

   If the subject has already been discussed in previous phrases, then automatically we have defined, so to speak, designated it. In this case, when mentioned again, we must put an article in front of the noun, for example: David bought a new car. The car is very expensive but fast.

   Something unique

   The article should be used when talking about something rare and unique, for example: the sun (the sun), the moon (the), etc. This rule can also include wonders of the world or unique places and attractions: the Parthenon, the Eiffel Tower, the White House.

   With geographical objects

   In English speech, many geographical names must be preceded by a definite article:

   • names of all rivers, oceans, seas, group lakes (the Nile, the Red sea, the Pacific ocean, the Great lakes etc.);
   • the names of mountain ranges and not individual islands, but their groups (the Caucasus, the Bahamas etc.);
   • deserts (the Sahara);
   • countries that have the words “united” in their names: the United Kingdom, the USA, etc.

   

   With cultural objects

   You must use the definite article with the names:

   • most museums (the National Museum);
   • many galleries (the Tate Gallery);
   • a hotel for all (the National Hotel);
   • cinemas (the Star);
   • theaters (the National Drama Theatre);
   • newspapers (the Times).

   Other uses of the article:

   • with the names of musical instruments (the piano);
   • when mentioning the entire family by surname (the Browns, the Smiths) or the entire people\nation (the British);
   • when indicating the time of day (in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening);
   • when designating some historical event or period (the Middle Ages);
   • if we indicate the person’s title (the President);
   • when using the superlative degree of an adjective or adverb (the most beautiful, the cleverest etc.)

   The article is not used:

   • with personal names;
   • with the names of countries, cities, streets, parks, continents, bridges, squares, individual islands and lakes (Russia, Asia, Time street, `Mann island, Baikal lake);
   • with the names of meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner - breakfast, lunch, dinner);
   • with names of sports or sports games (basketball, rugby, swimming);
   • with the names of the months of the year (June, August, January);
   • with demonstrative pronouns: this, these, that, those;
   • when using names of transport (by train, by bus, by plane etc.);
   • with names of colors (red, black, white) and drinks (coffee, tea, Coke).

   To effectively master the rules for using the indefinite article in English, you should select a thematic block of grammar exercises for the lesson, as well as create speech models for oral speech practice.
   

   » Articles. Geographical names

   Red Square, the Volga River or the USSR - are articles needed in English when we talk about geographical names? There are some rules for countries, others for streets and squares, and others for rivers and seas. Moreover, for each of the categories there are a number of exceptions when the rules do not apply. Articles are used or not used with geographical names simply because “it happened that way.” Let's try to figure it out.

   The article is needed only in two cases - firstly, if the name of the country contains what is called a “form of government” - union, kingdom, states, republic, and so on. Therefore, there is a definite article in the names of such states, as the United States of America, the United Kingdom(the article remains in abbreviations - the USA, the UK). For lovers of exoticism and skyscrapers – we’ll add it here the UAE – the United Arab Emirates, and for those who remember the 1980 Olympics and the Berlin Wall – the USSR, the GDR. For modern Russia everything is simple - Russia(no article) or the Russian Federation(with an article, since a federation is a form of government).

   I'm back in the USSR. You don’t know how lucky you are, boys. I'm returning to the USSR. Guys, you yourself don’t know how happy you are here (The Beatles song full of irony).

   The second case when an article is needed with countries is when the name of the country is a plural noun. Usually these are islands lost in the ocean - for example, the Philippines(Philippines) or the Bahamas(Bahamas). There is also a non-island state whose name has a plural - the Netherlands, Netherlands.

   An exception that is unlikely to be useful in life is a small African country The Gambia(Gambia), she is perhaps the only one who is written with the article “just like that.”

   An interesting situation has developed with Ukraine - Ukraine or The Ukraine? Until 1991, Ukraine was part of the USSR, and in this case different grammatical rules apply - and until 1991, indeed, the form was common The Ukraine. And since 1991, Ukraine, having become an independent state, is officially written without an article - Ukraine.

   Cities

   

   In order not to miss new useful materials,

   By proper name ( a proper noun) can be the name of a structure, organization, institution or any other place. In this article we tried to cover as many proper names as possible and talked about the rules that they follow.

   The use of articles with proper names is a very broad topic with many exceptions. For this reason, we recommend always checking a dictionary if you come across a new name. You can also bookmark our article, because we have collected for you a large list of the most common proper names.

   • We have also written separate articles about and.

   General rules for the use of articles with proper names

   Using the article with proper nouns can be challenging for English learners, as there are many exceptions in this group of nouns. Maybe this is due to the fact that all names are unique and inimitable and articles are also uniquely and inimitably combined with them? It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. Fortunately, many names are combined into groups that follow certain patterns.

   To begin with, we suggest you familiarize yourself with some general rules applicable to proper names:

   1. If an institution is named after a famous person or the locality in which it is located, the article is not needed.
      

      He entered Stanford University. - He entered Stanford University.

      We will land at Heathrow Airport. - We will land in Heathrow airport.

      If the structure or institution is named not in anyone's honor, then you should use the.

      We visited the Winter Palace. – We visited Winter Palace. (there is no famous person with this name, winter is an adjective that became part of the title)

      We visited Buckingham Palace. – We visited Buckingham Palace. (named after the Duke of Buckingham)

   2. If a store, cafe, restaurant, bank, hotel or other organization is named after someone with the ending - s or - 's, no article is used.
      

      I don’t like fast food, that’s why I don’t eat at McDonald's. – I don’t like fast food, so I don’t eat at “ McDonald's».

      This rule also applies to churches, temples, cathedrals named after saints.

      You must visit St Paul's Cathedral in London. – You just have to see St Paul's Cathedral in London.

   3. If there is a preposition in the title of, we will use the article the.
      

      The Great Wall of China is more than twenty kilometers long. – Great Wall of China more than twenty kilometers in length.

      Have you been to the Museum of Modern Art in New York? - You were in museum of modern art in New York?

   4. Some proper names have two forms: the long formal name, which will be used with an article, and the shortened informal name, which is usually used without an article.
      

      Last week I was in the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George. = Last week I was in Manchester Cathedral. - Last week I was in Manchester Cathedral.

      I've been working in the Eastman Kodak Company for ten years. = I've been working in Kodak for ten years. - I work in Kodak company ten years.

   Proper names with the definite article

   The definite article will accompany the names:

   1. Theatres, museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments and other unique buildings and structures:
      • the Bolshoi Theater– Bolshoi Theater;
      • the Coliseum Theater– Colosseum Theater;
      • the Royal Opera House– Royal Opera House;
      • the Hermitage– Hermitage;
      • the Louvre– Louvre;
      • the Royal Academy of Arts– Royal Academy of Arts;
      • the National Gallery– National Gallery;
      • the British Museum– British Museum;
      • the Queen Elizabeth Hall– Queen Elizabeth Concert Hall;
      • the Lincoln Memorial– Lincoln Memorial;
      • the National Film Theater– National House of Cinema;
      • the Odeon– (cinema) “Odeon”;
      • the Eiffel Tower– Eiffel Tower;
      • the Tower of London– Tower of London;
      • the Kremlin– Kremlin;
      • the Pentagon- Pentagon.
   2. Hotels, restaurants, pubs:
      • the Michelangelo Hotel– Hotel Michelangelo;
      • the King David Hotel– Hotel “King David”;
      • the Plaza Hotel– Hotel “Plaza”;
      • the Hilton Hotel– Hilton Hotel;
      • the Ledbury– Ledbury restaurant;
      • the Red Lion– (pub) “Red Lion”;
      • the Mayflower– (pub) “Mayflower”;
      • the White Horse Tavern- White Horse Tavern.
   3. Famous ships and trains:
      • the Titanic– “Titanic”;
      • the Trans-Siberian Express– “Trans-Siberian Express” train;
      • the Oriental Express- Orient Express train.
   4. Organizations, political parties:
      • the UN (the United Nations) – UN (United Nations);
      • the BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation) – BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation);
      • the FBI (the Federal Bureau of Investigation) – FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation);
      • the Red Cross– Red Cross;
      • the Democratic Party– Democratic Party;
      • the Labor Party– Labor Party;
      • the Co-operative Party- Cooperative Party.

      Please note that the abbreviations of some organizations can be used as independent words. The article is not used with such proper names. However, with full names the article is needed.

      • UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) – UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization);
      • NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) – NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration);
      • NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – NATO (North Atlantic Alliance);
      • UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund) – UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund).
   5. Political institutions:
      • the House of Commons– House of Commons;
      • the Senate– Senate (USA);
      • the Supreme Court– Supreme Court;
      • the Ministry of Foreign Affairs– Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
      • the Navy– Navy (USA).
   6. Sports events:
      • the Olympic Games– Olympic Games;
      • the World Championship– World Championship;
      • the British Grand Prix– British Grand Prix.
   7. Historical eras and events:
      • the Middle Ages– Middle Ages;
      • the Renaissance– Renaissance;
      • the Enlightenment- Age of Enlightenment;
      • the First World War– First World War.

   Proper names with zero article

   With many proper names the zero article is used. It comes with the names:

   1. Streets, parks, squares:
      • Regent Street– Regent Street;
      • Broadway– Broadway;
      • Trafalgar Square– Trafalgar Square;
      • Hyde Park– Hyde Park;
      • St James's Park– St. James's Park;
      • Red Square- Red Square.

      Pay attention to the street High Street(High Street): In modern English it can be used with or without the definite article.

   2. Dear

      The names of city roads in English are usually written without an article:

      • Park Lane– Park Lane;
      • Piccadilly– Piccadilly;
      • King's Road (Kings Road) – King Road;
      • Fifth Avenue- Fifth Avenue.

      The names of highways and freeways are usually accompanied by the definite article:

      • the Lincoln Highway– Lincoln Motorway;
      • the Jefferson Highway– Jefferson Highway;
      • the South Eastern Freeway– south-eastern highway.

      Many major roads are identified by a number and a letter. Such names in British English are often accompanied by a definite article, in American - by a zero article:

      • Br.E.: the A35 road– motorway A35;
      • Br.E.: the M5 motorway– M5 motorway;
      • Am.E.: U.S. Route 101 – Highway 101;
      • Am.E.: State road 15 – motorway 15.
   3. Schools, colleges, universities:
      • Ashford School– Ashford School;
      • Harrow School– Harrow School;
      • American Heritage School– American Heritage School;
      • Brighton College– Brighton College;
      • Eton College– Eton College;
      • Cambridge University– Cambridge University;
      • Harvard University– Harvard University.
   4. Airports, airlines, train stations, bridges:
      • Heathrow Airport– Heathrow Airport;
      • Gatwick Airport– Gatwick Airport;
      • Kennedy Airport– Kennedy Airport;
      • British Airways– airline British Airways;
      • American Airlines– airline American Airlines;
      • Aeroflot– Aeroflot;
      • Victoria Station– Victoria station;
      • King's Cross station– King's Cross station;
      • Charing Cross railway station– Charing Cross Station;
      • Westminster Bridge– Westminster Bridge;
      • Tower Bridge– Tower Bridge;
      • Waterloo Bridge- Waterloo Bridge.
   5. Churches, cathedrals, temples, abbeys:
      • St Martin's Church– Church of St. Martin;
      • Canterbury Cathedral– Canterbury Cathedral;
      • Saint Sophia Cathedral– Hagia Sophia;
      • Westminster Abbey– Westminster Abbey;
      • Shrewsbury Abbey- Shrewsbury Abbey.
   6. Palaces, castles:
      • Buckingham Palace– Buckingham Palace;
      • Lambeth Palace– Lambeth Palace;
      • Richmond Palace– Richmond Palace;
      • Edinburgh Castle– Edinburgh Castle;
      • Harlech Castle– Harlech Castle;
      • Windsor Castle– Windsor Castle;
      • Kronborg– (castle) Kronborg.
   7. Languages:
      • English- English;
      • French- French;
      • German- German;
      • Spanish– Spanish;
      • Italian– Italian.

      If the word appears in the name of the language language(language), then the definite article should be used with the name:

      • the English language- English language;
      • the French language– French language.

      Be careful: no words language, but with an article the Some names may indicate nationality:

      • the English- English;
      • the French- French.
   8. Days of the week, months, holidays:
      • Monday- Monday;
      • Wednesday– environment;
      • Friday- Friday;
      • January- January;
      • March- March;
      • July- July;
      • December- December;
      • Christmas- Christmas;
      • Easter– Easter;
      • Independence Day- Independence Day;
      • Bastille Day– Bastille Day.

      The article is also used with days of the week and holidays the, if we are talking about a specific day:

      • the Sunday of that week- Sunday of that week;
      • the worst Christmas we've ever had– the worst Christmas we've ever had.

      If you want to show that the day is not important, use the article a (an):

      • a Tuesday– some Tuesday / any Tuesday;
      • an Independence day– one of Independence Days.

   Other cases of using the article with proper names

   It can sometimes be difficult to formulate rules for certain groups of proper names. Below we invite you to find out what these names are.

   1. Newspapers

      Most English and American newspapers have an article. But, as a rule, it is part of the name itself and is therefore written with a capital letter. Some newspaper titles do not have an article.

      I'm reading The Times. - I'm reading The Times newspaper.

      I'm reading Today. - I'm reading Today newspaper.

      The	Zero article
      The Times The Daily Telegraph The Guardian The Washington Post The Morning Star The Independent The Wall Street Journal The Boston Globe The Sun	Today Daily Express Newsday Chicago Tribune

      The article is not used before the names of foreign newspapers:

      • Le Monde– “Mond”;
      • Liberation- "Liberation";
      • Pravda- "Is it true".
   2. Magazines

      Articles are rarely found in magazine titles. However, exceptions are possible here: the definite article may be part of the name.

      I read Forbes Forbes magazine.

      I read The Economist regularly. – I read regularly The Economist magazine.

      Zero article	The
      Forbes Newsweek New Musical Express National Geographic Car and Driver BBC Focus Amateur Gardening Men's Health Doctor Who Magazine	The Family Handyman The Cricketer The Economist The One

      • If you have a desire to read a British or American periodical, be sure to take a look at our school’s blog and read the articles “6 great sites with newspapers in English” and “10 cool magazines in English that you can’t tear yourself away from.”
   3. Music groups

      Group names may have the definite article as part of the name. In general, English grammar does not in any way limit the members of musical groups in choosing a name: a musician can combine words and letters as he sees fit, and contrary to all the rules. However, there are also some regularities here: the article the usually used if the name is plural, the zero article is used if the name is singular.

      • The Beatles;
      • The Rolling Stones;
      • The Doors;
      • Gorky Park;
      • ABBA;
      • Queen.

      But: Guns N' Roses, Beastie Boys, Ramones, The Revolution, The Who, Hootie & the Blowfish.

   We learned the basic rules for using articles with proper names in English. To ensure that not a single name is lost in the halls of your memory, we recommend downloading the table and taking the tests.

   (*.pdf, 240 Kb)

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   Test

   Articles with proper names in English

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