The Virgin Mary or Virgin Mary

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Rex

#298836 Wed, 29 Nov 06 01:11 PM

Pope Benedict XVI is due to focus on Christian issues on the second day of his landmark visit to Turkey.

The Pope is visiting the ancient city of Ephesus in western Turkey, where a shrine marks what is said to be the final resting place of the Virgin Mary.

He is then due to meet the Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Istanbul, aiming to heal an old rift between Churches.

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We don't use the article before names. For example, to say, people know the Tony Blair is the Prime Miniser of Britain is incorrect.

It should be ' People know Tony Blair is the Prime Minister of Britain'.

In the above article, you will read words 'the Virgin Mary. Is it correct?
Shouldn't it be Virgin Mary ?

Rex

Joined on Wed, Jul 28 2004

Frequent Poster (358)

Articles

Tidus

#298842 Wed, 29 Nov 06 01:35 PM

Her name is Mary, not Virgin Mary. "Virgin" describes her, so "The Virgin Mary" is correct.

Tidus

Joined on Mon, Nov 27 2006

England

Frequent Poster (354)

Rex

#298866 Wed, 29 Nov 06 03:03 PM

Tidus
Thanks for the reply.
I can't fathom your reply.

You are Tidus or Mr. Tidus.
You are not the Tidus or the Mr.Tidus.

Rex

NewPhilologist

#298868 Wed, 29 Nov 06 03:17 PM

You're Rex. Imagine there are two persons called Rex. You are green and the other one is yellow.

Thus you are "the green Rex" Smile [:)]

On a sidenote, I believe that "the Virgin Mary" is simply the idiomatic way to refer to her in English. It is in Dutch, at least.

NewPhilologist

Joined on Sun, Oct 1 2006

Regular Member (129)

pieanne

#298870 Wed, 29 Nov 06 03:23 PM

I guess it is, because I suppose quite a few Mary(s) are still virgins... Smile [:)]

pieanne

Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005

South of France ...But I'm Belgian!

Forum Guru (7,512)

I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos...

Tidus

#298876 Wed, 29 Nov 06 03:42 PM

Rex wrote:
Tidus
Thanks for the reply.
I can't fathom your reply.

You are Tidus or Mr. Tidus.
You are not the Tidus or the Mr.Tidus.

I'm the 'only' Tidus on this board.

Mary is the 'Virgin' Mary

Tidus

Rex

#298896 Wed, 29 Nov 06 04:12 PM

I'm the 'only' Tidus on this board.

Mary is the 'Virgin' Mary

Tidus, I would agree with the above.
By the same token, I am the only Rex on this forum and he is the only pieanne on this forum.

We don't say they pray for the God. It is pray for God.
God doesn't like the article whereas the mum likes the article.

Rex