Learn common patterns for 'the' with proper nouns: rivers, oceans, plural countries, hotels, and organizations.
the + proper noun (in common categories)
Do not add 'the' to most single countries/cities: France, Japan, London.
Is it a type that normally takes 'the' (river/ocean/plural country)?
💡 This overlaps with geography rules but extends to institutions and some building names. Always check common usage, because some names are fixed.
✓They sailed across the Atlantic.
✗They sailed across Atlantic.
Oceans/seas typically take 'the'.
✓She lives in the United States.
✗She lives in United States.
Plural/compound country names often take 'the'.
✓We stayed at the Ritz.
Many hotel names can take 'the' as part of the name in usage.