Definite articles

[Martha Sherwood]

I would suppose that in the cases cited, since the key word is Republic,
and Czech and Dominican are adjectival modifiers denoting a specific
republic, the definite article is appropriate. Use of the definite article
for place names in uncommon in English, but 'The Bronx', originally going
up to see the Bronck's family, who were major landholders in what later
became that borough, and The Dalles (French, the rapids, a major
impediment to navigation on the Columbia river) deserve mention. -Martha
Sherwood-

On Thu, 17 Aug 2000, Elizabeth B. Naime wrote:

> On Thu, 17 Aug 2000 pyz at PANIX.COM wrote:
>
> > General rule - In English, unless it is a collective entity the names
> > of sovreign states do not take the definite article.  Territories, btw do.
>
> Interesting.  I'd never really thought about why, for example, it's The
> Netherlands and yet Holland (no article).0
>
> > Btw, the only names which I find to be problematic with the above rule are
> > The Czech Republic, and The Dominican Republic.  Obliged to anyone who can
> > offer a reasonable explanation.
>
> Because "Republic" is explicitly part of the name?
>
> Elizabeth Naime
>
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