Practice
The Himalayas and Mount Everest: use articles with names
Sign in to saveA travel article can mention the Himalayas, Mount Everest, the Nile, and Nepal in one paragraph. The names look similar because they are all places, but English does not treat them in the same way. The type of name helps you choose the article.
Choose the or no article with common geographic names by identifying whether the name refers to a singular named place, a group, or a geographic feature with an established article pattern.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
the Himalayas; Mount Everest /ðə ˌhɪməˈleɪəz/; /maʊnt ˈevərəst/
The short answer
Say the Himalayas because it is the name of a mountain range. Say Mount Everest without the because it is the usual name of one mountain. The same contrast appears in the Alps and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mount Everest rises in the Himalayas.
Why it works: Mount Everest is an individual mountain, while the Himalayas names a range of mountains.
5 more examples
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The Andes extend along the western side of South America.
The Andes is the name of a mountain range, so English normally uses the.
Not this:
Mount Aconcaguais in the Andes. What changes: Mount Aconcagua names one mountain, so its usual name has no article. -
The Nile flows north through several countries.
English normally uses the with the names of rivers.
Not this:
Lake Victorialies near the source of the Nile. What changes: Lake Victoria is the established name of one lake, so it usually has no article. -
We crossed the Sahara by road.
The Sahara is a desert name that normally takes the.
Not this:
Moroccohas a coast on the Atlantic Ocean. What changes: Morocco is a country name, and most country names are used without an article. -
The Philippines consists of many islands.
The Philippines is a plural island-group name with an established the.
Not this:
Manilais the capital of the Philippines. What changes: Manila is a city name, so it has no article. -
Asia is the largest continent by area.
Continents normally have no article in their usual names.
Not this:
The Pacific Oceanlies east of Asia. What changes: Ocean names normally take the.
Read the full guide
First, identify what the name points to. A name for one mountain, lake, city, country, or continent usually has no article. A name for a range, river, sea, ocean, desert, or island group often takes the. Then check the familiar full name. English has exceptions, so a reliable dictionary or atlas can settle a name that you do not know.
Name the kind of place first
Before you choose an article, ask what kind of place the name describes. Is it one mountain, a group of mountains, a river, a country, or a city? That question gives you a useful pattern before you look for exceptions.
Mount Everest is a mountain in the Himalayas.
Mount Everest names one mountain. The Himalayas names a range, which is a connected group of mountains.
Which name refers to a group: the Andes or Mount Fuji?
The Andes refers to a mountain range. Mount Fuji refers to one mountain.
Use the with mountain ranges
English normally uses the with the names of mountain ranges. This includes the Himalayas, the Alps, the Andes, and the Rockies. A range has many mountains, but the article belongs to the established name, not simply to every plural noun.
They spent a week hiking in the Alps.
Say the Alps for the range, but say Mont Blanc for an individual mountain in that range.
Leave the out before most individual mountains
Most individual mountain names have no article in normal use. The word Mount is part of names such as Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro. Do not add the before Mount when you use the usual name.
Mount Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania.
The summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is correct because summit is a specific common noun. The usual mountain name remains Mount Kilimanjaro.
Choose the usual form: We photographed ___ Mount Fuji from the lake.
Use no article: We photographed Mount Fuji from the lake.
Recognize other place types that take the
Rivers, seas, oceans, deserts, canals, and many island groups usually take the. Learn the place type with the name: the Nile, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the Sahara, and the Bahamas.
The Amazon carries water across northern South America.
Brazil is a country, so it usually has no article. The Amazon is a river, so it takes the.
Use no article with most countries, cities, and continents
Most country, city, continent, street, and lake names have no article in their usual form. Say Kenya, Nairobi, Africa, Oxford Street, and Lake Superior. This pattern helps, but country names with plural or descriptive forms can be exceptions.
Nairobi is in Kenya, in East Africa.
The United Kingdom is an established exception. Its complete country name includes the.
Which form is usual: ___ Canada or ___ the Canada?
Use Canada. Most single country names do not take the.
Check exceptions as complete names
A rule can guide you, but it cannot replace the established form of every geographic name. Keep exceptions as complete phrases in your notes. A dictionary, atlas, or reliable style guide can confirm a form when you need to write it accurately.
She moved from the Netherlands to Belgium.
The Netherlands takes the as part of its usual name. Belgium does not.
Before you go
Remember this
Use the with many ranges, rivers, seas, oceans, deserts, and island groups. Use no article with most individual mountains, lakes, countries, cities, and continents. The Himalayas and Mount Everest show the main contrast: a range takes the; one named mountain usually does not. Check a trusted reference for exceptions.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "The Himalayas and Mount Everest: use articles with names"
Why do we say the Himalayas?
The name the Himalayas refers to a mountain range, and English normally uses the with mountain-range names. The same pattern appears in the Alps and the Andes. Learn the complete place name rather than adding an article only because the name is plural.
The Andes extend along the western side of South America.
Why do we say Mount Everest without the?
Mount Everest is the usual name of one individual mountain, so it normally has no article. This pattern also applies to Mount Fuji and Mount Kilimanjaro. Use the when a separate common noun is specific, as in the summit of Mount Everest.
Mount Aconcagua is in the Andes.
Which geographic names usually take the?
English commonly uses the with mountain ranges, rivers, seas, oceans, deserts, canals, and many island groups. Examples include the Andes, the Nile, the Pacific Ocean, the Sahara, and the Bahamas. Individual names can have exceptions, so check a reliable reference when needed.
The Nile flows north through several countries.
Do country and city names use the?
Most country and city names have no article in their usual form, as in Kenya, Japan, Nairobi, and London. Some established country names are exceptions, including the United Kingdom and the Philippines. Treat these as complete names to remember.
Lake Victoria lies near the source of the Nile.
How can I check an unfamiliar geographic name?
First identify the place type, such as a river, range, country, or city, because that often suggests the article pattern. Then check the full name in a reliable dictionary, atlas, or style guide. This matters because established names can differ from the general pattern.
We crossed the Sahara by road.