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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Historical references.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