According to “English Vocabulary in Use” (upper-intermediate & advanced)
by Michael Mccarthy and Felicity O’Dell (ninth printing, 1999)
the following statement is given:
Some countries may be referrred to with or without "the’’ (page 62)
e.g.
b[/b] Lebanon, b[/b] Gambia, b[/b] Ukraine, b[/b] Sudan
From the above-mentioned examples, I have learnt that the definite article
is optional!!!
Question: When to use “the” and vice versa?
Many thanks...You just have to learn which countries use it and which don’t.
Hi Beeesneees,
To be truth, I don’t understand you.
Could you explain to me clearer?..
When to use ‘the’ with countries?
There is no rule. You have to learn which countries require it.
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
Hello, Foreigner:
As the language coach said, we just have to memorize which countries take the “the.”
When I was young, Americans definitely said “The Lebanon” and “The Sudan.”
I noticed that about 10 years ago (more or less), the news readers stopped called it “THE West Bank.” (Palestinian territories)
Americans still say:
THE Philippines
THE Vatican
THE Netherlands
and probably others that I can’t recall now.
Because I am an old man, I prefer THE Ukraine, for I grew up hearing it with “the.” “He visited Ukraine” still sounds strange to me. But, of course, I must accept the changes.
James
Hi,
I think, perhaps, you did not pay attention to the time that I received the reply…