definite article

[Lenka]

Why is the definitie article "the" not used with "Buckingham Palace"? It is a very unique and famous place...

e.g. Buckingham Palace on AboutBritain.com - there is no "the" in front of the phrase "Buckingham Palace"

[rewboss]

It is a unique and famous place, yes, but "Buckingham Palace" is actually the name of the building -- and the name does not include a definite article.

By comparison, "the White House" is always used with the definite article, partly because without it, it would be possible to mix it up with any house that was white.

Strangely, we usually use the definite article with names of ships: "the Queen Mary" (as opposed to Queen Mary, who was a person), "the Enterprise", "the Millennium Falcon". But usually, we don't do this with names, unless the definite article is part of the name.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Lenka

Why is the definitie article "the" not used with "Buckingham Palace"? It is a very unique and famous place...

e.g. Buckingham Palace on AboutBritain.com - there is no "the" in front of the phrase "Buckingham Palace"

When George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, owned it, calling it 'the Buckingham Palace' would have seemed a bit arrogant.

b

[Lenka]

Thank you very much!

Originally Posted by BobK

When George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, owned it, calling it 'the Buckingham Palace' would have seemed a bit arrogant.

b

By the way, why would it have seemed a bit arrogant, Bob?

[Niall]

The palace in Buckingham is called "Buckingham Palace".
The definate article is not needed as "Buckingham Palace" is the name.

This is not uncommon. Simular Examples include "Chatsworth House" or "Cardiff Castle".

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Lenka

Thank you very much!


By the way, why would it have seemed a bit arrogant, Bob?

I'm not sure; it just seems to me that prepending (not a commonly-used word, but I like it!) a The to ones own name shows a lack of humility.

b

[Humble]

Hi Lenka,
To clarify the point Bob makes I’d give this example.
In appositions, the indefinite article implies the listener is not familiar with the modified object (person), while the definite article implies he is or he should (is supposed to) be.
Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian writer, …- Everybody knows Tolstoy and the listener is supposed to know him.
Leo Tolstoy, a great Russian writer,…. – It may sound insulting, the speaker presumes the listener is an ignoramus.
In some cases, by adding the definite article we exalt the object, give it a higher rank in terms of fame or importance – thus,

a lack of humility

.

Regards

[BobK]

Thanks for that Humble

b

[viet_ghat]

Originally Posted by BobK

I'm not sure; it just seems to me that prepending (not a commonly-used word, but I like it!) a The to ones own name shows a lack of humility.

b

What is prepending?

I hadn't found your word `Prepending' in any dictionary.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by viet_ghat

What is prepending?

I hadn't found your word `Prepending' in any dictionary.

It's like appending, but you do it before (pre-) the word . Some people use prefix (as a verb - stress on the 2nd syllable) for this, but a 'prefix' (noun - stress on the first syllable) is joined onto a word - not just placed before it.

b

ps - Maybe it would be in a bigger dictionary, or maybe it's a word confined only to academic contexts - linguistics/philology.