Rachel Adams
Key Member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2018
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- Student or Learner
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- Russian
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The definite article makes me think this is excerpted from a longer passage that places the discussion in an area that has a lot of old ports and canals. We're referring to those ports and canals specifically.Why is it "it" and not "she" and why do they use the definite article before its name and before "old ports" and "canals"?
Some people refer to ships as she, others as it.
Names of ships are frequently used with the definite article unless they are preceded by some other designation:
The Queen Mary, The Ark Royal, HMS Ark Royal.
I said 'frequently', not 'always'.
It specifies which ports and canals: THE old ones.. . . why do they use the definite article . . . before "old ports" and "canals"?
I've certainly seen/heard people say "the Titanic".