> Kazunari Hirano wrote: > > >Hi all, > >:) > >I live in Japan. > >We never say "I live in the Japan." > >But I sometimes or often see that people say or write: > >"I live in the UK." or "I live in UK." > >"I live in the US." or "I live in US." > >Why sometimes or often can US and UK have "the" before them? > >:) > >Thanks, > >khirano > > > > > > > Simple: > "I live in United States of America." or "I live in United Kingdom of > Great Britain and Northern Ireland.", is not correct English. The > official name of the US IS "The United States of America" (as in, "We, > the people, of the United States of America ...). At least thus I was > taught way back in my earliest youth. (LONG time ago! ;-) ) I suspect > the same is true on the other side of the pond. -Greg
We used to say "The Argentine", when I was a kid. I barely remember that. The explanation was, that it is a left over from the concept that the names that have a feminine gender in other languages are suppose to have an article before them, hence the "the". Now if that is true I know not. But I think in the case of the USA it is different as it is THE UNITED STATES of (north) America, not THE UNITED STATES of (central) America. Further, we have THE North West Territories of Canada and THE Yukon of Canada. BUT it is now Yukon no THE. So in this case I think that if there is an adjective or modifier prior to the main noun in a compound name then it is correct to use "THE". But more experinced grammarians should comment. Chris
