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Geographical names
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Geographical names such as names of cities and villages are used without the article unless they are modified.

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Except for some geographical names indicating a particular region or landscape, most geographical names such as names of cities and villages are used without the article unless they are modified.

Modification characteristically occurs if the proper name can be ambiguous. The example below involves an unambiguous use of the geographical name. As expected, the article is absent.

1
a. Potchefstroom is 'n mooi stad.
Potchefstroom be.PRS a beautiful city
Potchefstroom is a beautiful city.
b. ?Die Potchefstroom is 'n mooi stad
the Potchefstroom be.PRS a beautiful city
Potchefstroom is a beautiful city.

The example below involves potentially ambiguous use of the geographical name, which is made unambiguous by adding a modifier in the form of an adposition phrase (PP). As a consequence, the article must be present:

2
a. So lyk die Potchefstroom van my drome.
so look the Potchefstroom of my dreams
That is what the Potchefstroom of my dreams looks like.
b. *So lyk Potchefstroom van my drome.
so look Potchefstroom of my dreams
That is what the Potchefstroom of my dreams looks like.
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