[adolph]

Prepositions in English are highly idiomatic. Although there are some rules for usage, much preposition usage is dictated by fixed expressions. [0]

Prepositions are fascinating. Why is it that NASA and ESA don't get a "the" but the Sun, Earth, Moon and USA do? Why does it always feel wrong when Apple doesn't use "the" before iPod, iPhone, etc?

0. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/pre...

[thomukas]

“The” is not a preposition but a definite article.

[adolph]

Thanks! The rules for definite articles are also odd. Only very specific categories of proper nouns are articled. USA gets one because "of" is in the name. I think the categories of articled proper nouns is probably missing sports leagues, like the NFL and the NBA.

https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/art...