Quote:
Originally Posted by mykwyner  I think that the use of the definite article in these cases is completely idiomatic.
Before the plane landed at J.F.K. airport, it flew over the Museum of Modern Art, the Empire State Building, Columbia University, and the Brooklyn Navy Yards. |
Normally, we do not use the definite article in the following situations. Mind you, exceptions are always there:
Proper Noun(Name) + airport (except "the airport" alone)
More often than not, renown international buildings do not have the definite article, like Alexandra House.(Unless the adjective of the building carries the definite article itself:
Empire State Building: Official Internet Site )
of-phrase in museums and universities (But there are some exceptions in that the of-phrase of the museums and universities does not carry the definite article itself, like City University of Hong Kong)
If it is a district, we use the definite article - the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Last but not least: Proper nouns... + kindergartens, + schools, + colleges, + institutes, + universities do not normally have the definite article before them. (Again, exceptions exist. If in doubt, you'd better check it up in the insititution's website.)
(not a teacher.)