to read a magazine / the magazine

[5jj]

Special case-2: Use with transportation:
Eg: The railway, the subway etc
We normally go by train, bus, tram, tube etc; we don't use an article. We can, however, 'take a/the train, bus, tram'.

Special case-3: Use with forms of entertainment:
Eg: The ballet etc.

There are, unfortunately, rather more than three 'special cases'.

- in the morning, afternoon, evening, but at the night.
- (BrE): in the hospital, school, prison, ...
- go the the pub, theatre, ballet, ...
- in the bath, shower;
- I've had the appendicitis, (the) measles, (the) flu, a cold, ...
- the Pacific Ocean, the Lake Windermere, ...
- the Himalayas, the Matterhorn, the Mount Everest, ...
- the University of Durham, the Durham University.

[aachu]

Special case-2: Use with transportation:
Eg: The railway, the subway etc
We normally go by train, bus, tram, tube etc; we don't use an article.

Sorry, 5jj. I didn't elaborate it. My elaboration with the first special use holds good for this use too. I.e, When we refer to the whole system we say 'the railway', 'the subway' etc, but when we be specific, we say, train, bus and the likes.

[5jj]

Sorry, 5jj. I didn't elaborate it. My elaboration with the first special use holds good for this use too. I.e, When we refer to the whole system we say 'the railway', 'the subway' etc,
I don't think we do very often. When I talk about a system, I use the word 'system': "The German railway system is rather more efficient than the British (railway system)". I would use 'the railway' only if talking about the means of transport involving locomotives running on rails: "The arrival of the railway meant that people could at last travel long distances faster the ancient Romans".
but when we be are specific, we say, train, bus and the likes.

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