3.30 'A/an', 'the', zero article + nouns in apposition
When two nouns or noun phrases are used in apposition [> 1.39], the use of the indefinite, definite and zero articles before the second noun or noun phrase sometimes affects the meaning:
D H Lawrence, an author from Nottingham, wrote a book called
'Sons and Lovers' (This implies that the reader may not have heard
of D.H. Lawrence.)
D H Lawrence, the author of 'Sons and Lovers', died in 1930
(This implies that many people have heard of D.H. Lawrence, or, if
not, of 'Sons and Lovers'.)
D H Lawrence, author of 'Sons and Lovers', died in 1930
(This implies that everyone has heard of D.H. Lawrence.)
Zero article or 'the' with place names
Most place names are used with zero, but there is some variation. In particular, the is used when a countable noun like one of the following appears in the title: bay, canal, channel, gulf, kingdom, ocean, republic, river, sea, strait, union. The is often omitted on maps.
Zero
Continents: |
Africa, Asia, Europe
Geographical areas: Central Asia Inner
London, Lower Egypt, Outer Mongolia Upper Austria
The
-
the Arctic, the Balkans,
the Equator, the Middle East
the North Pole, the West
Historical references. Ancient Greece, the Dark Ages,
Medieval Europe, pre- the Renaissance,
war/post-war Germany, the Stone Age
Roman Britain
Lakes |
Lake Constance, Lake Erie, Lake Geneva
Oceans/seas/rivers.
Mountains: Mountain ranges: Islands
Groups of islands. Deserts.
Everest Mont Blanc
Christmas Island, Delos, Easter Island
the Pacific (Ocean), the Caspian (Sea), the Nile (or the River Nile), the Mississippi (or the Mississippi River), the Suez Canal
the Jungfrau, the Matterhorn
|
|
the Alps, the Himalayas
the Isle of Capri, the Isle of Man
the Azores, the Bahamas
the Gobi (Desert) the Kalahari (Desert), the Sahara (Desert)
The zero article
Countries:
Zero
Most countries.
Finland, Germany Turkey, etc.
The
Unions and associations.
the ARE (the Arab Republic of Egypt), the UK (the United Kingdom), the USA (the United States of America) the USSR (the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
A few countries:
the Argentine (or Argentina), the Netherlands, the Philippines, (the) Sudan, (the) Yemen