Unit 73 · A and the
the ... (names of places)
Study
Places (continents, countries, states, islands, towns etc.)
In general we do not use the with names of places:
France is a very large country. (not the France)
Cairo is the capital of Egypt.
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean.
Peru is in South America.
But we use the in names with 'republic'/'states'/'kingdom':
the Czech Republic
the United States of America (the USA)
the United Kingdom (the UK)
the -s (plural names)
We use the with plural names of countries/islands/mountains:
the Netherlands
the Canary Islands
the Philippines
the Alps
Seas, rivers etc.
We use the with names of oceans/seas/rivers/canals:
the Atlantic (Ocean)
the Mediterranean (Sea)
the Amazon
the (River) Nile
the Suez Canal
the Black Sea
Places in towns (streets, buildings etc.)
In general we do not use the with names of streets, squares etc.:
Kevin lives in Newton Street.
Where is Highfield Road, please?
Times Square is in New York.
We do not use the with names of airports, stations and many other important buildings:
Kennedy Airport
Westminster Abbey
London Zoo
Victoria Station
Edinburgh Castle
also
Cambridge University, Harvard University etc.
But we use the with names of most hotels, museums, theatres and cinemas:
the Regent Hotel
the National Theatre
the Science Museum
the Odeon (cinema)
the ... of ...
We use the + names with ... of ...:
the Museum of Modern Art
the University of California
the Great Wall of China
the Tower of London
We say the north / the south / the east / the west (of ...):
I've been to the north of Italy, but not to the south.
Exercises (2)
Answer these geography questions. Choose from the box. Use The if necessary.
- 1is the capital of Egypt.example
- 2is between Africa and America.example
- 3is a country in northern Europe.
- 4is a river in South America.
- 5is the largest continent in the world.
- 6is the largest ocean.
- 7is a river in Europe.
- 8is a country in East Africa.
- 9is between Canada and Mexico.
- 10are mountains in South America.
- 11is the capital of Thailand.
- 12are mountains in central Europe.
- 13is between Saudi Arabia and Africa.
- 14is an island in the Caribbean.
- 15are a group of islands near Florida.
Write the where necessary. If the sentence is already correct, write OK.
- 1Kevin lives in Newton Street. example
- 2We went to see a play at National Theatre. example
- 3Have you ever been to China?
- 4Have you ever been to Philippines?
- 5Have you ever been to south of France?
- 6Can you tell me where Regal Cinema is?
- 7Can you tell me where Merrion Street is?
- 8Can you tell me where Museum of Art is?
- 9Europe is bigger than Australia.
- 10Belgium is smaller than Netherlands.
- 11Which river is longer - Mississippi or Nile?
- 12Did you go to National Gallery when you were in London?
- 13We stayed at Park Hotel in Hudson Road.
- 14How far is it from Trafalgar Square to Victoria Station (in London)?
- 15Rocky Mountains are in North America.
- 16Texas is famous for oil and cowboys.
- 17I hope to go to United States next year.
- 18Mary comes from west of Ireland.
- 19Alan is a student at Manchester University.
- 20Panama Canal joins Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean.