Proper noun with "the"

[gorikaz]

For example, in Japan, there is a station called "Tokyo."
In the following examples, I listed up 3 patterns using "Tokyo station/Station".
Are all acceptable in English grammar?

1) I arrived at the Tokyo station.
2) I arrived at Tokyo Station.
3) I arrived at the Tokyo Station.

If the above 3 is also correct (besides 1 and 2), does this mean that the proper noun (in this case, "Tokyo Station") could come with "the"? Is it correct?

[nickmoore]

Originally Posted by gorikaz

For example, in Japan, there is a station called "Tokyo."
In the following examples, I listed up 3 patterns using "Tokyo station/Station".
Are all acceptable in English grammar?

1) I arrived at the Tokyo station.
2) I arrived at Tokyo Station.
3) I arrived at the Tokyo Station.

If the above 3 is also correct (besides 1 and 2), does this mean that the proper noun (in this case, "Tokyo Station") could come with "the"? Is it correct?

That's a good question. I would say, in my less than perfect English, that 1) I arrived at the Tokyo station. I arrived at the station belonging to Tokyo. There is only one station in Tokyo

2) I arrived at Tokyo Station. Tokyo Station is the name of the station.

3) I arrived at the Tokyo Station. Tokyo Station is refering to the name of the structure.

Now I'm all confused

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by gorikaz

For example, in Japan, there is a station called "Tokyo."
In the following examples, I listed up 3 patterns using "Tokyo station/Station".
Are all acceptable in English grammar?
1) I arrived at the Tokyo station.
2) I arrived at Tokyo Station.
3) I arrived at the Tokyo Station.
If the above 3 is also correct (besides 1 and 2), does this mean that the proper noun (in this case, "Tokyo Station") could come with "the"? Is it correct?

Normally, we wouldn't use 'the' with these because they are the names of the stations. Number 2 would be the norm.

I arrived at Tokyo Station.

For a special purpose, 'the' could be used.

So anyway, I got to the Tokyo station but the train was so crowded that I couldn't get off before the doors closed so I had to go to the next station, get off and go back to Tokyo.

[Tdol]

For me, 'the Tokyo station' could be any station in Tokyo, though one both speaker and listener know about- I could have arrive at Shibuya, etc.

[gorikaz]

Thank you for all your explanations and comments.
Well, it seems to me that writing as "I arrived at Tokyo Station" sounds best to me in this case after listening to all your comments.
However, I want to know if this is not acceptable to write the ABC signal, DEF signal, and GHI signal if, for example, there are three signals called "ABC," "DEF," and "GHI." Do I still need to write as "ABC Signal," "DEF Signal," and "GHI Signal" instead of "the ABC signal," "the DEF signal," and "the GHI signal"?

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by gorikaz

Thank you for all your explanations and comments.
Well, it seems to me that writing as "I arrived at Tokyo Station" sounds best to me in this case after listening to all your comments.

Additionally, Tokyo Station is a proper noun - it's the name of the main intercity rail terminal in Tokyo - so it needs to be capitalized.

1) I arrived at Tokyo station. <capitalization required>
2) I arrived at Tokyo Station. <correct>
3) I arrived at the Tokyo Station. <With emphasize, i.e., the famous station>
4) I arrived at the Tokyo station. <e.g., the station we both talked/know about>

Originally Posted by gorikaz

Do I still need to write as "ABC Signal," "DEF Signal," and "GHI Signal" instead of "the ABC signal," "the DEF signal," and "the GHI signal"?

You could leave them in or you could omit them.

Ex: There are three signals: ABC, DEF, and GHI.

[gorikaz]

Dear Casiopea,

So, do you mean that I could say in either way--"the ABC signal" or "ABC Signal"?

[Casiopea]

Yes. You have a choice.

[gorikaz]

I see, I have a choice.
Hmmm, then why I do not have a choice to use either "the Tokyo station" or "Tokyo Station" when I am talking about the station called "Tokyo"?
As you probably know, there are many train stations in Japan, such as "Tokyo," "Shibuya," and "Shinjuku." Cannot I call these stations as "the Tokyo station," "the Shiuya station," and "the Shinjuku staion"? No?!?!

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by gorikaz

"Tokyo," "Shibuya," and "Shinjuku." Cannot I call these stations as "the Tokyo station," "the Shiuya station," and "the Shinjuku staion"? No?!?!

(See Tdol's post "Toyko station".) You can call them Tokyo stations if they are stations within the metropolis; e.g., Shibuya is a (train) station in Tokyo; e.g.,There are X number of train stations in Tokyo. They are Shibuya (Station), Shinjuku (Station), Tokyo (Station), and so on. (Note that, Station, like ABC, DEG, GHI, is optional.) If you are referring to Shibuya Station, a proper noun, it's capitalized.