Unit 72

the ... (names of places)

Grammar
Examples
Exercises

A. Places (continents, countries, states, islands, towns etc.)

In general we do not use the + 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 Republic of Ireland (or the Irish Republic)
  • the United States of America (the USA)
  • the United Kingdom (the UK)

B. the + (plural names)

We use the + plural names of countries/islands/mountains:

the Netherlands
the Canary Islands
the Philippines
the Andes

C. Seas, rivers etc.

We use the + names of oceans/seas/rivers/canals:

the Atlantic (Ocean)
the Mediterranean (Sea)
the Amazon
the (River) Nile
the Suez Canal
the Black Sea

D. Places in towns (streets, buildings etc.)

In general we do not use the + 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 + name of place (or person) + airport/station/university/castle etc.:

  • Kennedy Airport
  • Victoria Station
  • Cambridge University
  • Westminster Abbey
  • Edinburgh Castle
  • London Zoo

But usually we use the + names of hotels, restaurants, pubs, cinemas, theatres, museums:

  • the Hilton (Hotel)
  • the Star of India (restaurant)
  • the Odeon (cinema)
  • the National Theatre
  • the Tate Gallery (art gallery)

E. the ... of ...

We use the + names with ... of ...:

  • the Republic of Ireland
  • the Bank of England
  • the Great Wall of China
  • the Tower of London

We say: the north / the south / the east / the west / the middle (of ...):

  • I've been to the north of Italy but not to the south.

No the

  • France, Cairo, Corsica, Peru
  • Newton Street, Highfield Road, Times Square
  • Kennedy Airport, Victoria Station, Cambridge University

With the

  • the Republic of Ireland, the United States, the United Kingdom
  • the Netherlands, the Canary Islands, the Philippines, the Andes
  • the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Amazon, the Nile, the Suez Canal, the Black Sea
  • the Hilton, the Odeon, the National Theatre
  • the Bank of England, the Great Wall of China
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72.1 These are geography questions. Choose your answer from the box. Sometimes you need the.
Alps
Amazon
Andes
Asia
Atlantic
Bahamas
Cairo
Kenya
Malta
Pacific
Red Sea
Rhine
Sweden
Tokyo
United States
1 Cairo is the capital of Egypt.
2 is between Africa and America.
3 is a country in northern Europe.
4 is a river in South America.
5 is the largest continent in the world.
6 is the largest ocean.
7 is a river in Europe.
8 is a country in East Africa.
9 is between Canada and Mexico.
10 are mountains in South America.
11 is the capital of Japan.
12 are mountains in central Europe.
13 is between Saudi Arabia and Africa.
14 is an island in the Mediterranean.
15 are a group of islands near Florida.
72.2 Put in the where necessary. If the sentence is already correct, write OK.
1 Kevin lives in Newton Street. OK
2 We went to see a play (at National Theatre) at the National Theatre.
3 Have you ever been to ?
4 Have you ever been to ?
5 Have you ever been to ?
6 Can you tell me where is?
7 Can you tell me where is?
8 Can you tell me where is?
9 Europe is bigger than .
10 Belgium is smaller than .
11 Which river is longer – or ?
12 Did you go to when you were in London?
13 'Where did you stay?' 'At in .'
14 How far is it from to (in London)?
15 Rocky Mountains are in .
16 Texas is famous for oil and cowboys.
17 Panama Canal joins and .
18 I hope to go to next year.
19 Mary comes from a small town in .
20 Alan studied physics at .