Some place names take the article ‘the’ with them, but some other place names are used without the article the. Can you use articles correctly? Test your understanding with this grammar exercise.
1............... is the longest river in the world.
Wrong!
River names usually take the definite article, so the correct answer is "The Nile".
2............... is one of the largest lakes in Africa.
Wrong!
Individual lake names with "Lake" usually do not take the definite article, so the correct answer is "Lake Victoria".
3............... is the highest peak in the world.
Wrong!
Individual mountain names usually do not take the definite article, so the correct answer is "Mount Everest".
4............... are an example of a folded mountain range.
Wrong!
Names of mountain ranges usually take the definite article, so the correct answer is "The Himalayas".
5............... is the largest desert in the world.
Wrong!
Desert names usually take the definite article, so the correct answer is "The Sahara".
6He was my classmate at ............... .
Wrong!
This university name is used without the definite article, so the correct answer is "Oxford University".
7We are going to ............... for the summer.
Wrong!
Most country names do not take the definite article, so the correct answer is "Switzerland".
8Mandarin is the official language of ............... .
Wrong!
Country names with words such as "Republic" usually take the definite article, so the correct answer is "the People's Republic of China".
9London is on ............... .
Wrong!
River names usually take the definite article, so the correct answer is "the Thames".
10............... attracts thousands of visitors each day.
Wrong!
Many museum names take the definite article, so the correct answer is "The British Museum".
11His brother lives in ............... .
Wrong!
Names of states usually do not take the definite article, so the correct answer is "Texas".
12............... is the largest continent in the world.
Wrong!
Continent names usually do not take the definite article, so the correct answer is "Asia".
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- The Nile is the longest river in the world.
- Lake Victoria is one of the largest lakes in Africa.
- Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.
- The Himalayas are an example of a folded mountain range.
- The Sahara is the largest desert in the world.
- He was my classmate at Oxford University .
- We are going to Switzerland for the summer.
- Mandarin is the official language of the People’s Republic of China .
- London is on the Thames .
- The British Museum attracts thousands of visitors each day.
- His brother lives in Texas .
- Asia is the largest continent in the world.

