A and THE (names of places)

Question 1

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

*In general we do NOT use the with NAMES OF PLACES:

→ But we use the in names with ‘republic’/‘states’/‘kingdom’:

Answer 1

…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.

…the Czech Republic
…the United States of America (the USA)
…the United Kingdom (the UK)

Question 2

the -s (plural names)

*We use the with PLURAL names of countries/islands/mountains:

Answer 2

…the Netherlands
…the Philippines
…the Canary Islands
…the Alps

Question 3

Seas, rivers etc.

*We use the with names of oceans/seas/rivers/canals:

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Places in towns (streets, buildings etc.)

• In general we do NOT use the with names of streets, squares etc.
• We do NOT use the with names of airports, stations and many other important buildings

→But we use the with names of most hotels, museums, theatres and cinemas

Answer 4

…Kevin lives in Newton Street.
…Where is Highfield Road, please?
…Times Square is in New York.

...Kennedy Airport
...Victoria Station
...Westminster Abbey
...Edinburgh Castle
...London Zoo
    →also Cambridge University, Harvard University etc.

…the Regent Hotel
…the Science Museum
…the National Theatrethe Odeon (cinema)