the USA or USA

[Ksenia]

Hello.

The company runs its plants in Germany, Brazil, Argentina, the US.

Do I need "the" before "US" or I can omit it when listing contries?

 

[bhaisahab]

You need it.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello.

The company runs its plants in Germany, Brazil, Argentina, the US.

Do I need "the" before "US" or I can omit it when listing countries?

You also need to add "and" before "the US" if it's the last example in the list. Note the correct spelling of "countries".

 

[Rover_KE]

You used USA in your title, but US in your question.

While most native English speakers informally accept the US as meaning the USA, you'd be well advised to use the USA, unless you're using US adjectivally.

'US imports'/'the US flag'/'US immigration procedures'.

 

[Barb_D]

As an American, I just about NEVER say "The USA."
It's (almost) always "the US" (or U.S.) for me.

 

[Roman55]

I have heard many British people who simply say UK while they are speaking under the normal circumstances, like they say "I am from UK".

I would never say that.

 

[Rover_KE]

I have heard many British people who simply say UK while they are speaking under the normal circumstances, like they say "I am from UK".

I've known more British people than you have, Aamir, and I've never heard any of them say 'I am from UK'.

We say 'I'm from England/Scotland/Wales/(Northern) Ireland'.

 

[emsr2d2]

It depends on your definition of a British person. If you simply mean someone who holds a British passport, whether from birth or through naturalisation, then it's entirely possible that English isn't their first language. If that's the case, one of those people might incorrectly say "I'm from UK". However, a native speaker of BrE would never say it.

 

[bubbha]

Certain countries require "the", including the USA, the UK, and the UAE (abbreviations), and the Philippines, the Maldives and the Marshall Islands (plurals, describing island groups).

One country insists on putting "the" in front of it when it makes no sense to do so: "the Gambia".

Two countries insist that "the" should not be used, when traditionally we used to add "the": Sudan and Ukraine.

 

[kilroy65]

Considering all the previous posts, can we conclude that the definite article is used with countries whose official names are in the plural or include the nouns "kingdom", "states", and "republic"?