Articles with Geography

When to use 'the' with countries, rivers, mountains, and other geographical names

intermediate

When to Use

•THE with: rivers (the Thames), oceans (the Pacific), mountain ranges (the Alps), deserts (the Sahara), groups of islands (the Maldives).
•THE with: plural country names (the Netherlands, the Philippines), countries with Republic/Kingdom/States (the UK, the USA).
•NO article with: most countries (France, Japan), single mountains (Mount Everest), single islands (Bali), continents (Asia), lakes (Lake Victoria).
•THE with: regions (the Middle East), canals (the Suez Canal), peninsulas (the Iberian Peninsula).
•NO article with: cities (Paris, Tokyo), streets (Oxford Street), parks (Central Park).

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

The + geographical name (when required) OR just the name (no article)

Negative (-)

Same rules apply

Question (?)

Same rules apply

💡 The key is whether the name is plural, contains a common noun (Republic, Kingdom), or is a water body/range.

Examples

✓I visited the United States.

✗I visited United States.

Countries with States/Kingdom/Republic need 'the'.

✓Mount Fuji is beautiful.

✗The Mount Fuji is beautiful.

Single mountains don't take 'the'.

✓The Amazon is the longest river.

✗Amazon is the longest river.

Rivers take 'the'.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Rivers, oceans, seas, canals → the (the Nile, the Atlantic).
• Mountain ranges, deserts, island groups → the (the Rockies, the Sahara).
• Single mountains, lakes, islands, continents → no article.
• Plural/compound country names → the (the UK, the Netherlands).

articles-definite-indefinite zero-article prepositions-place 📝 articles-intermediate 📝 geography-articles-quiz

Articles with Geography

When to use 'the' with countries, rivers, mountains, and other geographical names

intermediate

When to Use

•THE with: rivers (the Thames), oceans (the Pacific), mountain ranges (the Alps), deserts (the Sahara), groups of islands (the Maldives).
•THE with: plural country names (the Netherlands, the Philippines), countries with Republic/Kingdom/States (the UK, the USA).
•NO article with: most countries (France, Japan), single mountains (Mount Everest), single islands (Bali), continents (Asia), lakes (Lake Victoria).
•THE with: regions (the Middle East), canals (the Suez Canal), peninsulas (the Iberian Peninsula).
•NO article with: cities (Paris, Tokyo), streets (Oxford Street), parks (Central Park).

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

The + geographical name (when required) OR just the name (no article)

Negative (-)

Same rules apply

Question (?)

Same rules apply

💡 The key is whether the name is plural, contains a common noun (Republic, Kingdom), or is a water body/range.

Examples

✓I visited the United States.

✗I visited United States.

Countries with States/Kingdom/Republic need 'the'.

✓Mount Fuji is beautiful.

✗The Mount Fuji is beautiful.

Single mountains don't take 'the'.

✓The Amazon is the longest river.

✗Amazon is the longest river.

Rivers take 'the'.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Rivers, oceans, seas, canals → the (the Nile, the Atlantic).
• Mountain ranges, deserts, island groups → the (the Rockies, the Sahara).
• Single mountains, lakes, islands, continents → no article.
• Plural/compound country names → the (the UK, the Netherlands).

articles-definite-indefinite zero-article prepositions-place 📝 articles-intermediate 📝 geography-articles-quiz

Articles with Geography

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Articles with Geography

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗I live in the France.

✗We crossed Alps.

✗She swam in Pacific Ocean.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗I live in the France.

✗We crossed Alps.

✗She swam in Pacific Ocean.

💡 Practice Tips

Related