Articles and Geography

Rules:
1) Continents - no article; e.g. Asia, Europe
2) Countries - one word names = no article; e.g. China
    with political descriptions use articles; e.g. The People's Republic of China, The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
    with plurals use "the"; e.g. the Philippines
    with compass directions do not use 'The'; e.g. North Korea
3) Cities, towns and villages - no articles; e.g. Beijing, Kowloon.
4) Islands - single islands = no article; e.g. Lantau, Hong Kong Island
    Islands - groups of islands = "the" + plural; e.g. the Dao Yu Islands, the Spratleys
5) Mountains - single mountains = no article; e.g. Yellow Mountain, Mount Everest
     Mountain ranges = "the" + plural; e.g. the Himalyas
6) Lakes - usually no articles; e.g. Lake Superior (exception: The West Lake, "West" is an adjective)
7) Other Water features - use "the"; e.g. the Pacific Ocean, the South China Sea, the Pearl River.

Question 1:
Which is correct?

a. Brazil is in the South America.
b. Brazil is in an South America.
c. Brazil is in a South America.
d. Brazil is in South America.

Question 2:
Which is correct?

a. I'm going to United States of America.
b. I'm going to the United States of America.
c. I'm going to a United States of America.
d. I'm going to United States of Americas.

Question 3:
Which is correct?

a. Shanghai is the largest city in China.
b. The Shanghai is the largest city in China.
c. A Shanghai is the largest city in China.

Question 4:
Which is correct?

a. The Outlying Islands include Peng Chau and Cheung Chau.
b. A Outlying Islands include Peng Chau and Cheung Chau.
c. Outlying Islands include Peng Chau and Cheung Chau.

Question 5:
Which is correct?

a. Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in China, the Himalayas and the world.
b. The Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in China, the Himalayas and the world.
c. Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in China, Himalayas and the world.
d. Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the China, the Himalayas and the world.

Question 6:
Which is correct?

a. The largest lake in the world is the Lake Baikal in Russia.
b. The largest lake in the world is Lake Baikal in Russia.
c. The largest lake in the world is a Lake Baikal in Russia.

Question 7:
Which is correct?

a. South China Sea is part of Pacific Ocean.
b. A South China Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean.
c. The South China Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean.
d. The South China Sea is part of Pacific Ocean.
e. South China Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean.

 

Congratulations, you have finished.

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

Feedback for Question 1, Choice 'a': "Brazil is in the South America."
Do not use articles with the names of continents.
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 1, Choice 'b': "Brazil is in an South America."
South does not start with a vowel sound, so don't use "an".
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 1, Choice 'c': "Brazil is in a South America."
Do not use articles with the names of continents.
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 1, Choice 'd': "Brazil is in South America."
Yes, you should not use articles with the names of continents.
Click here to go to the next question.

 

Feedback for Question 2, Choice 'a': "I'm going to United States of America."
Use "The" in front of country names that have adjectives such as "United".
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 2, Choice 'b': "I'm going to the United States of America."
Yes, you should use "the" in front of country names that have adjectives such as "United".
Click here to go to the next question.

Feedback for Question 2, Choice 'c': "I'm going to a United States of America."
Use "The" in front of country names that have adjectives such as "United".
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 2, Choice 'd': "I'm going to United States of Americas."
Use "the" in front of country names that have adjectives such as "United". Don't make the last name plural.
Click here to return to the question.

 

Feedback for Question 3, Choice 'a': "Shanghai is the largest city in China."
Yes, no articles in front of cities.
Click here to go to the next question.

Feedback for Question 3, Choice 'b': "The Shanghai is the largest city in China."
No articles in front of cities.
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 3, Choice 'c': "A Shanghai is the largest city in China."
No articles in front of cities.
Click here to return to the question.

 

Feedback for Question 4, Choice 'a': "The Outlying Islands include Peng Chau and Cheung Chau."
Yes, groups of islands have "The" and are plural.
Click here to go to the next question.

Feedback for Question 4, Choice 'b': "A Outlying Islands include Peng Chau and Cheung Chau."
Groups of islands have "The" and are plural.
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 4, Choice 'c': "Outlying Islands include Peng Chau and Cheung Chau."
Groups of islands have "The" and are plural. "Outlying islands include Peng Chau and Cheung Chau." is correct because "islands" here has a small "i", and is therefore not a name.
Click here to return to the question.

 

Feedback for Question 5, Choice 'a': "Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in China, the Himalayas and the world."
Yes, no article for single mountains, only for mountain ranges.
Click here to go to the next question.

Feedback for Question 5, Choice 'b': "The Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in China, the Himalayas and the world."
No article for single mountains, only for mountain ranges.
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 5, Choice 'c': "Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in China, Himalayas and the world."
Use "the" for mountain ranges.
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 5, Choice 'd': "Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the China, the Himalayas and the world."
No articles in front of single-word country names.
Click here to return to the question.

 

Feedback for Question 6, Choice 'a': "The largest lake in the world is the Lake Baikal in Russia."
There is usually no article in front of lakes.
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 6, Choice 'b': "The largest lake in the world is Lake Baikal in Russia."
Yes, there is usually no article in front of lakes.
Click here to go to the next question.

Feedback for Question 6, Choice 'c': "The largest lake in the world is a Lake Baikal in Russia."
There is usually no article in front of lakes.
Click here to return to the question.

 

Feedback for Question 7, Choice 'a': "South China Sea is part of Pacific Ocean."
Use "The" before sea and ocean names.
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 7, Choice 'b': "A South China Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean."
Use "The" before sea and ocean names.
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 7, Choice 'c': "The South China Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean."
Yes, you should use "The" before sea and ocean names.
Click here to go to the next question.

Feedback for Question 7, Choice 'd': "The South China Sea is part of Pacific Ocean."
Use "The" before sea and ocean names.
Click here to return to the question.

Feedback for Question 7, Choice 'e': "South China Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean."
Use "The" before sea and ocean names.
Click here to return to the question.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last updated on: Monday, March 26, 2012