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Teo Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

article usage about the names of bridges

1. We use 'the' with these kinds of place names: rivers (the Rhine), deserts (the Sahara), etc.

2. We don't use 'the' with: continents (Africa), towns (Oxford), streets (Park Street), etc.

How about the names of bridges such as London bridge or Tower bridge? Do they belong to #1 ('The' is necessary.) or #2 (Zero article.)?

Thank you very much for your reply.
  

Top answer

g. "London Bridge", "Tower Bridge". g.

— MrPedantic

  • g.
  • "London Bridge", "Tower Bridge".
  • g.
  • "the Tallahatchie Bridge", "the Severn Bridge".
  • MrP
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5 Answers
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Hello Teo

Where the name of the bridge is a proper name, you omit the article, e.g. "London Bridge", "Tower Bridge".

Where the name of the bridge is descriptive, you use the article, e.g. "the Tallahatchie Bridge", "the Severn Bridge".

MrP
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1. We saw the Tower Bridge.

2. We saw Tower Bridge.

According to what you have stated, sentence #1 is incorrect, isn't it?

Thank you very much for your reply.
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Hello Teo

If Tower Bridge is Tower Bridge in London, #2 is correct.

But there may be bridges on towers elsewhere. And those bridges may be known as "the tower bridge" to local people.

MrP
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0 Do you have some handy rules that can be applied to hotel names? I meant handy in a good sense. 0-
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0Hello Believer02br
02br
00If the hotel is famous, or known to your interlocutor, you can omit "hotel":02br
02br
001. We're going to the Ritz for tea this afternoon.02br
02br
00Otherwise, it's safest to use the full name of the hotel, as printed on its stationery.02br
02br
00MrP0-
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