Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: Proper names

  1. #1
    Bartosz Cierach Guest

    Default Proper names

    Do you happen to know a football team that has the definite article?
    The ones that I know like Manchester United do not have the article.
    But American football and basketball teams do like the Los Angeles Lakers?

  2. #2
    RonBee's Avatar
    RonBee is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • American English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Posts
    16,557

    Default

    In the USA most of the sports team names are plural. Perhaps that is why they get the definite article ("the").

  3. #3
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • Philippines
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    38,631

    Default Re: Proper names

    Quote Originally Posted by Bartosz Cierach
    Do you happen to know a football team that has the definite article?
    The ones that I know like Manchester United do not have the article.
    But American football and basketball teams do like the Los Angeles Lakers?
    Arsenal is a team that appears both with and without the artcile. Also, some teams with an unusual second name take the article when the first is dropped:
    Bolton Wanderers or the Wanderers.

    Articles are used when the team's nickname is used- The Magpies, etc. However, I cannot think of a team that always takes the article in BE. I'll keep trying. BTW, welcome to the forum, Bartosz.

Similar Threads

  1. the definite article + Proper Nouns
    By ewelina in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 23-Jan-2008, 15:36
  2. Correct Possessive Form For Proper Names
    By Anonymous in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 17-Apr-2004, 19:42
  3. Proper agreement
    By raelynn in forum General Language Discussions
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 25-Dec-2003, 00:31
  4. english
    By Anonymous in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-Dec-2003, 19:09

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1