Geographical names

No article is used with geographical names (Asia as well as Latin America has many developing countries like, for example, Malaysia). No article is used with the names of continents, mountain peaks, single islands, bays, waterfalls (Everest, Madagascar, Hudson Bay, Niagara Falls), countries, provinces, cities, streets (excluding some exceptions) (Bobruisk, Y.Mavra str.), squares.

The definite article is used with geographical names modified by a particularizing attribute (It wasn't the Russia of his youth anymore). The article is used with the names of oceans, seas, rivers, lakes (excluding the cases when the noun "lake" is used), straits, canals (the Pacific; the Black Sea; the Svisloch; the Naroch; Lake Ontario; the Panama Canal; the Bering Strait), mountain chains, groups of islands, deserts (the Urals, the Bermudas, the Sahara), some exceptions from the rule of countries, provinces, cities and streets (the Netherlands, the Ukraine, the Congo, the Lebanon, the Argentine, the USA, the Cameroon, the Senegal; the Tyrol, the Transvaal, the Crimea, the Riviera, the Caucasus, the Ruhr; the Hague; the Main street, the Mall, the High street, the Strand).

Miscellaneous proper names

Names of hotels, ships, newspapers and magazines are used with the definite article (the Hyatt, the Academic Sverdlov, the Rolling Stone, the Times).

Names of cardinal points are used with the definite article (the East). No article is used in expressions "from East to West" and "from North to South".

Names of months and days are used without articles (July, Friday). The nouns modified by a particularizing attribute are used with the definite article (The August of 2006 was one of the best months in my life). The indefinite article is used when the speaker talks about one of many months/days (I can't remember the exact date, but I'm sure that it was a Monday) and when a descriptive attribute is implied (A cold June is something usual for those places).

Nouns modified by proper names in the genitive case require no article (I met Mary's brother). A noun modified by a proper name in the common case is used with the definite article (I'd really like to visit Yanka Kupala theatre).

Names of parks, squares, airports and railway stations are used with no article (Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square, Heathrow Airport, Victoria Station).

The names of universities and colleges are used without an article (Cambridge University). But the definite article is used in the combinations "the University of London, the University of Moscow" etc.

Names of theatres, museums, galleries, concert halls and cinemas tend to be used with the definite article (the Bolshoi Theatre, the British Museum, the Tretiakov Gallery, the Astoria, the Odeon).

Names of state institutes, organizations, political parties and grammatical categories are used with the definite article (the Army, the Komsomol, the Conservative Party, the Past Indefinite).

Set expressions

The Indefinite article. In a hurry, to have a (good, great) mind to do smth., to fly into a passion, to get in a rage (fury), to take a fancy to smb., in a low (loud) voice, a great many (deal), it's a pity, it's a shame, it's a pleasure, as a result, to have a good time, to be at a loss, at a glance.

The Definite article. It's out of the question, to take the trouble to do smth., in the original, to play the piano (guitar, etc.), to keep the house, to keep the bed, on the whole, the other day, on the one hand-on the other hand, to tell the truth, to be on the safe side.

No article. Out of doors, to take to heart, to take offence, to give (get, ask for) permission, to lose heart, at present, from morning till night, from head to foot, from beginning to end, at first sight, by chance, by mistake, for hours, for ages, by land (air, sea), to go to sea, on deck, to keep house, at sunrise (sunset), at work, at peace, by name, in debt.