Using the article 'the'

Question

Hello,I have a question regarding usage of the article the in a sentence. In general, one does not use this article with formal names (e.g. "I like Korea") However, the following are two very common sentences:I like the NFLI like the NBAAre not both the NFL and the NBA formal names? In addition, why don't we use this demonstrative article in regard to major league baseball. For example, one doesn't usually say, "I like the MLB."  They generally say, "I like MLB."Many kind thanks for anyone who can answer this question.Best regards.

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

If the is used in the complete proper noun, it is normally also used with the abbreviation:

He likes the National Basketball Association / the NBA.

CB

CalifJim · Answer

NFL: National Football League
NBA: National Basketball Association
MLB: Major League Baseball

As used in these abbreviations, league and association are countable, concrete nouns; baseball is an uncountable, abstract noun.
the committee, the group, the league, the association, but faith, love, baseball

I like the league; I like the association; I like baseball. -- Not *I like the baseball (in the intended reading).

(If you use baseball as a countable, concrete noun, you are referring to the ball itself, the object which is thrown during the game of baseball. This is not the meaning intended in the term MLB.)

CJ

Clive · Answer

Hi guys,

I look at it this way.

The problem is that such names end in a word that by itself is a common noun.

The official name of the NBA seems to be 'National Basketball Association'. If it were called simply 'National Basketball', it would be natural to refer to it as the National Basketball association.

Because of this usage of a common noun at the end of the name,it still feels natural to native speakers to say 'the', even when the word 'association' is written with a capital A.

( I've never heard anyone refer simply to either 'MLB' or 'the MLB'.

If you said to me, 'I like MLB' or 'I like the MLB', I would have no idea what you are talking about. )

Best wishes, Clive

CalifJim · Answer

Clive( I've never heard anyone refer simply to either 'MLB' or 'the MLB'.

If you said to me, 'I like MLB' or 'I like the MLB', I would have no idea what you are talking about. )

Same here. I checked on Google and also noticed that most instances of MLB were adjectival. Get your MLB [standings / tickets / news / scores] here!

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

Cool Breezeit is normally also used with the abbreviation:

the United States, the US
the United Kingdom, the UK

However, if the abbreviation is pronounced as if it were a word, no article is used:
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO (Not: the NATO)

CB

Clive · Answer

Hi,

But not with every abbreviation. eg

IBM, not the IBM

NBC, not the NBC

GM, not the GM

Clive

Using the article 'the'

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