Institutions take the zero article for their general purpose, as in she goes to school every day, but the definite article for a specific building, as in the plumber went to the school to repair a pipe. Single mountains and countries take no article, while rivers, oceans, mountain ranges, and plural country names always take the.
Grammar Rule
Institutions take the zero article for their general purpose but the definite article for the specific building; geographical names follow their own conventions.
Advanced Articles with Institutions and Places: Rules and Examples
| Category | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Institution (general purpose) | zero article | As a student, she goes to school every day to attend classes. |
| Institution (specific building) | the | The plumber went to the school to repair a broken pipe. |
| Single mountains/countries | zero article | Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest peak in Africa. |
| Rivers/oceans/ranges/plural countries | the | The Nile is the longest river in Africa. The Andes stretch along the western coast of South America. |
Remember: zero article for single mountains/countries and institutions used for their purpose; the for rivers, oceans, ranges, and plural-form countries.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below choosing the correct article for institutions and geographical names. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Advanced Articles
Click «Start the test» to begin right away — no signup required. You can get a personalized certificate with your name and score at the end, if you want one.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do institutions take no article?
When referring to their general purpose, as in she goes to school every day to attend classes.
When do institutions take the definite article?
When referring to a specific building, as in the plumber went to the school to repair a broken pipe.
Do single mountains and countries take an article?
No, as in Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest peak in Africa.
Do rivers and plural country names take an article?
Yes, they always take the, as in the Nile is the longest river in Africa.