why it's "the" Golden Gate Bridge?

[alpacinou]

Why is it called "the" Golden Gate Bridge?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_Bridge

But it's not called "the Westminster Bridge"?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Bridge

When do I put "the" before the name of the bridge?

 

[teechar]

"Westminster" is a proper noun, and we don't use the definite article with those. However, "gate" on its own is an ordinary noun, so it can take "the". However, there is not an absolute rule about this. The best way is to learn the name as you encounter it.

 

[Phaedrus]

I'm not aware of any bridge in the United States that does not have "the" as part of its name. The other major bridge near the Golden Gate, namely the Bay Bridge, is a case in point. I think that sometimes people refer to the Brooklyn Bridge as just "Brooklyn Bridge," though. When I try to think of a bridge without "the" as part of the name, all that comes to mind is the song "London Bridge is falling down."

 

[probus]

In London, there's also Tower Bridge.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I'm not aware of any bridge in the United States that does not have "the" as part of its name. The other major bridge near the Golden Gate, namely the Bay Bridge, is a case in point. I think that sometimes people refer to the Brooklyn Bridge as just "Brooklyn Bridge," though. When I try to think of a bridge without "the" as part of the name, all that comes to mind is the song "London Bridge is falling down."

It's always the Brooklyn Bridge.

But here's a question for Al: Why is it the flu but a cold but pneumonia?

 

[probus]

It's always the Brooklyn Bridge.

Why is it the flu but a cold but pneumonia?

Here is my guess. Certainly there are many different kinds of pneumonia (which incidentally just means fluid in the lungs.) Similarly there are various types of cold (e.g. head and chest) but only one influenza, albeit with constantly evolving strains.

 

[Glizdka]

Not a teacher
------

At some point, I gave up trying to understand why the is or isn't used with certain names, and I just started memorizing them. It was when I was wrestling with geographical names, and I was defeated by the Sudan, the Gambia, and El Salvador.

There's lots of general rules that can help you with most cases, but there's even more exceptions to those rules.

The best way is to learn the name as you encounter it.

This is, unfortunately, the best advice you'll get.

From what I can tell, even native speakers can sometimes get it wrong when dealing with a name they haven't seen (enough). As Mark Cooper-Jones put it, you just have to live long enough to learn them one at a time, sorry.

 

[Tdol]

In London, there's also Tower Bridge.

But we also say the Humber Bridge and the Severn Bridge- it is an area of inconsistency.

 

[jutfrank]

But we also say the Humber Bridge and the Severn Bridge- it is an area of inconsistency.

I imagine that's because both the Humber and the Severn are rivers, and we use the with rivers.

 

[Phaedrus]

I'm not aware of any bridge in the United States that does not have "the" as part of its name.

On further reflection, I realized that I know of two beautiful bridges in northern Washington State which do not take "the": Rainbow Bridge and Deception Pass.

 

[Tdol]

I imagine that's because both the Humber and the Severn are rivers, and we use the with rivers.

Good point, but we do have Trent Bridge, though that may be influenced by the cricket ground.