Academic English

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.
Exercises
 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.