1. There is no article with names of universities, colleges and

schools.: Moscow University, Oxford University, Trinity College, King’s College, Heaton Manor School,

2. Names of theatres, museums, picture galleries, concert halls, cinemas, clubs and hotels are used with the definite article: the Bolshoi Theatre, the Opera House

3. Names of famous trains, ships, yachts and boats are used with the definite article. the Orient Express, (the) Titanic, the Sedov

4. Names of English and American newspapers are generally used with the definite article. the Daily Telegraph, the Independent, the Times

Names of foreign newspapers take no article: Le Monde, Moskovski Komsomolets

Names of magazines as a rule take no article (though it is possible). Times, House Beautiful, Punch, the Spectator

5. Names of months and days of the week are usually used without any article. January, February, Monday, Tuesday

6. Names of most organizations and political parties are used with the definite article. the Kremlin, the Senate, the Capitol, the Government

7. Names of languages are used without any article unless the noun “language” is mentioned. English, French, Japanese

8. Names of sport events take the definite article. the Olympic Games, the World Cup, the World Championship

No article is used if a geographic name is used to indicate some sport competition. Wimbledon (tennis), Luzhniki (football), Ascot and Epsom (horse races), Henley (rowing)

9. Names of musical groups are used with the definite article if the noun is in the plural. the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Eurythmics, the Supremes, the Cardigans

In other cases no article is used. Queen, ABBA, Gorky Park, Genesis, A-Ha

10. Names of highways (motorways) and roads generally take the definite article. the Al, the M3, the New Seattle Highway

11. Names of internationally known prizes take the definite article. the Nobel Prize, the Booker Prize, the Pulitzer

Prize

The Use of Articles with Names of Persons

1. Generally no article is used with names of persons as they point out individuals. Tom, Mary, Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Robinson, Ms. Loveday No article is used either if names of persons are modified by such descriptive attributes as little, old, dear, poor, honest, with which they form close units. Lucky Jim, Old Jolyon, Poor Smith, Dear Old Emily

2. The indefinite article is used to indicate one member of a family or a certain person having the name in question. She was a true Dobson. A Mr. Parker to see you, sir.

3. The definite article is used with a name in the plural to indicate the whole family, also if the noun has a limiting attribute. the Forsytes, the Dobsons, the Peacocks, the Romanovs

4. We find no article with the names of members of a family (Mother, Father, Aunt, Uncle, Baby, Cook, Nurse, Grandmother) when they are treated as proper names by the members of the family. In this case such nouns are usually written with a capital letter

5. Sometimes names of persons change their meaning and become common countable nouns if:

1) the name of a scientist, painter, inventor or manufacturer is used to denote his work, a prize, or an award. a Webster, a Goya, a Ford, a Faberge, an Oscar, a Emmy

2) the characteristic qualities of the bearer of the name (but not the person himself) are meant. He is a typical Kazanova. You are a true Tarzan.

6. If a personal name has a descriptive attribute, it takes an indefinite article to describe a temporary state or a new image of the person. A scared Michelle opened the door

The definite article is used with a personal name (having a descriptive attribute) to describe a permanent state, or traits of character. Now she was playing the practical, sensible Cora, the woman who always got things done.

Articles with Nouns in Apposition

1. As a rule, a countable noun in the singular in the function of an apposition takes the indefinite article (its classifying

meaning is strongly felt in this case).

2. The definite article is used with a noun in apposition when:

1) it refers to a well-known person: Pushkin, the great Russian poet, was very fond of autumn.

2) it has a limiting attribute or is clear from the situation: He left his coat on the table, the cashmere coat, which he had bought in London

3. If the apposition precedes the proper name, it takes the definite article. the painter Turner, the composer Britten,

the student Ognev

4. Nouns in apposition are generally used without any article if they denote a position, rank, state, post or occupation, which is, as a rule, unique, and can be occupied by only one

person at a time. Here belong such nouns as: king, queen, president, prime-minister, head, rector, director, dean, manager, chief, principal, etc. The noun in this case usually has an “of-phrase” attribute.

5. When nouns denoting titles, military ranks or posts are followed by a proper name no article is used. Doctor Watson, Professor Jones, Colonel Pickering