the

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Hi,In the original text, they didn't use "the" before western Europe, but I think they should! Actually, I have no reason, I just feel that way. Would you please explain which one is correct? And explain the rule.The Viking attacks on (the) western Europe coincided with an abnormally warm period in the Earth's climate.Thanks!

Canadian45 · Accepted Answer

YeganehHi,......
In the original text, they didn't use "the" before western Europe, but I think they should! definitely not
Actually, I have no reason, I just feel that way. Would you please explain which one is correct? And explain the rule.

The Viking attacks on (the) western Europe coincided with an abnormally warm period in the Earth's climate.

There is no place called 'the Europe' or 'the western Europe'. It's just '(western) Europe'.
But we would say things like 'the western part of Europe'.

Yeganeh · Answer

OK. Thanks, I think I got it.

Cool Breeze · Answer

The use of articles is one of the most difficult (and inconsistent) aspects of English grammar. As for the names of towns, countries and continents, an adjectival attribute does not normally bring on an article. The use of the 'of' structure, which many European grammarians call the of genitive, usually does:

He lives in Brighton. Modern Brighton is very different from the Brighton of the early 20th century.
Mediaeval Europe interests him.
I live in southern Finland.

Germanic languages are different with regard to the use of articles in these cases. The last sentence is Jag bor i det södra Finland in Swedish. Det is one of the definite articles of the Swedish language.

There is or was no such person as the Shakespeare, yet we say This sonnet was written by the great Shakespeare. You may feel tempted to draw the conclusion that an adjectival attribute always necessitates an article in connection with a person's name. No such luck: Poor Mary failed her grammar test.

CB

Yeganeh · Answer

Thank you for your time and great explanation. Yet, I didn't understand what you meant from

Cool BreezeAs for the names of towns, countries and continents, an adjectival attribute does not normally bring on an article. The use of the 'of' structure, which many European grammarians call the of genitive, usually does:He lives in Brighton. Modern Brighton is very different from the Brighton of the early 20th century.

Did you mean that if I somehow use an of sequence, we can add the?
eg The west of Europe?! Not The western part of Europe.

Cool Breeze · Answer

YeganehDid you mean that if I somehow use an of sequence, we can add the?eg The west of Europe?! Not The western part of Europe.

The west of Europe is correct. In the same way:

I live in the south of Finland. = I live in southern Finland.

Some people capitalise southern: I live in Southern Finland.
(Some think it's wrong to capitalise it.)

CB

Canadian45 · Answer

The west of Europe?! Not The western part of Europe.

"The west of Europe is correct. In the same way:"

I am not sure that you answered the question at the top.

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