Definite Article: "the" with superlatives, ordinals, and geographic names (B1)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

She climbed highest peak in the Alps last summer.

Correct answer: the

Superlative adjectives always take "the" — "the highest peak" identifies a unique item (the top of the mountain range). There can only be one highest, so "the" is obligatory.

Amazon is the longest river in South America by water flow.

Correct answer: The

Rivers always take "the" as part of their name — the Amazon, the Nile, the Thames, the Mississippi. The article is part of the fixed name and cannot be omitted.

Please take first turning on the left after the traffic lights.

Correct answer: the

Ordinal numbers (first, second, third…) in noun phrases require "the" — they identify a specific item in a sequence. "The first turning" = the one turning that is first in order.

Mount Everest is highest mountain in the world.

Correct answer: the

Superlative "the highest" — identifies a unique item (one mountain is highest). "The" is obligatory with all superlatives. Omitting it would be grammatically incorrect.

He was last person to arrive at the ceremony.

Correct answer: the

"The last" — "last" used as an ordinal (= final in sequence) requires "the". It identifies a unique position in an ordered group. Compare: "last week" (no article) vs "the last week of term" (specific final week).

Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Correct answer: The

Named seas and oceans always take "the" — the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific. The article is an inseparable part of the geographical name.

This is third time this week she has been late for work.

Correct answer: the

"The third time" — ordinal number in a noun phrase requires "the". "Third" identifies a specific position in a counted sequence, so the definite article is obligatory.

January is first month of the year.

Correct answer: the

"The first month" — ordinal adjective + noun phrase: there is exactly one first month, making it a unique referent. Ordinals in this pattern always take "the".

She lives near Alps, close to the Swiss border.

Correct answer: the

Mountain ranges take "the" — the Alps, the Rockies, the Himalayas, the Andes. Individual named mountains do NOT take "the" (Mount Everest), but ranges always do.

He finished race in first place and broke a world record.

Correct answer: the

"The race" — both speaker and listener know which race is being discussed (a specific known event). "A race" would re-introduce it as if unknown. "The" marks shared knowledge of which specific race.

Netherlands is famous for its tulips, windmills, and cycling culture.

Correct answer: The

Plural country names take "the" — the Netherlands, the Philippines, the United States, the United Arab Emirates. Most singular country names do NOT take "the" (France, Japan, Brazil).

It was most challenging project she had ever undertaken in her career.

Correct answer: the

"The most challenging" — superlative formed with "most" still requires "the". All superlatives (biggest, most difficult, least expensive) are preceded by "the" because they describe a unique extreme in a group.

Can you name capital city of Australia?

Correct answer: the

"The capital city" — unique referent: each country has exactly one capital city, so it is uniquely identifiable. "The" is used with anything that is one-of-a-kind within a defined context.

Andes stretch along the western coast of South America for 7,000 km.

Correct answer: The

"The Andes" — mountain range: always uses "the". The Andes, the Alps, the Himalayas all follow this pattern. Individual mountains (Mount Aconcagua) do not use "the".

He was awarded second prize in the national photography competition.

Correct answer: the

"The second prize" — ordinal "second" in a noun phrase requires "the". Awards and ranked positions (the first prize, the gold medal, the second place) all use "the" to identify the specific rank.

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

She climbed highest peak in the Alps last summer.

Correct answer: the

Superlative adjectives always take "the" — "the highest peak" identifies a unique item (the top of the mountain range). There can only be one highest, so "the" is obligatory.

Amazon is the longest river in South America by water flow.

Correct answer: The

Rivers always take "the" as part of their name — the Amazon, the Nile, the Thames, the Mississippi. The article is part of the fixed name and cannot be omitted.

Please take first turning on the left after the traffic lights.

Correct answer: the

Ordinal numbers (first, second, third…) in noun phrases require "the" — they identify a specific item in a sequence. "The first turning" = the one turning that is first in order.

Mount Everest is highest mountain in the world.

Correct answer: the

Superlative "the highest" — identifies a unique item (one mountain is highest). "The" is obligatory with all superlatives. Omitting it would be grammatically incorrect.

He was last person to arrive at the ceremony.

Correct answer: the

Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Correct answer: The

Named seas and oceans always take "the" — the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific. The article is an inseparable part of the geographical name.

This is third time this week she has been late for work.

Correct answer: the

"The third time" — ordinal number in a noun phrase requires "the". "Third" identifies a specific position in a counted sequence, so the definite article is obligatory.

January is first month of the year.

Correct answer: the

"The first month" — ordinal adjective + noun phrase: there is exactly one first month, making it a unique referent. Ordinals in this pattern always take "the".

She lives near Alps, close to the Swiss border.

Correct answer: the

Mountain ranges take "the" — the Alps, the Rockies, the Himalayas, the Andes. Individual named mountains do NOT take "the" (Mount Everest), but ranges always do.

He finished race in first place and broke a world record.

Correct answer: the

Netherlands is famous for its tulips, windmills, and cycling culture.

Correct answer: The

Plural country names take "the" — the Netherlands, the Philippines, the United States, the United Arab Emirates. Most singular country names do NOT take "the" (France, Japan, Brazil).

It was most challenging project she had ever undertaken in her career.

Correct answer: the

Can you name capital city of Australia?

Correct answer: the

"The capital city" — unique referent: each country has exactly one capital city, so it is uniquely identifiable. "The" is used with anything that is one-of-a-kind within a defined context.

Andes stretch along the western coast of South America for 7,000 km.

Correct answer: The

"The Andes" — mountain range: always uses "the". The Andes, the Alps, the Himalayas all follow this pattern. Individual mountains (Mount Aconcagua) do not use "the".

He was awarded second prize in the national photography competition.

Correct answer: the

"The second prize" — ordinal "second" in a noun phrase requires "the". Awards and ranked positions (the first prize, the gold medal, the second place) all use "the" to identify the specific rank.

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.