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Do I need to use articles in front of proper nouns that are used as adjectives?

Examples:

"I joined [the] Warp Engine team."

"I want to share [the] Warp Engine roadmap with you."

ainokna
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    Usually, yes. I joined the* [green|fast|Smithsonian|Apollo|Johnson] team.* Unless it is posessive: I joined Johnson's team. – Davo Apr 03 '17 at 21:37
  • Not in certain cases, eg She's a member of [the] Boarshurst Brass Band / He's a member of [the?] Garforth Working Mens Club. – Edwin Ashworth Apr 03 '17 at 21:55
  • @EdwinAshworth - But your examples are true proper nouns, not regular nouns modified by proper nouns used as adjectives. The OP's example's are of regular nouns modified by proper noun-adjectives, and the article is determined by the noun. – Hot Licks Apr 03 '17 at 22:23
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    @Drew - That's not a duplicate. The referenced question does not discuss using proper nouns as adjectives for common nouns. – Hot Licks Apr 04 '17 at 00:06
  • Yes, since there is only one "Warp Engine" you need the definite article "the". Note though, that "Warp Engine" is not an adjective; it is a proper noun functioning as modifier (there is a difference!). – BillJ Apr 04 '17 at 06:49
  • @BillJ - You need the "the", but not because the "modifier" is a proper noun. You need it because the nouns are "team" and "roadmap". You would still need the article if it were the "Warp Engines team". – Hot Licks Apr 04 '17 at 11:48
  • @HotLicks Those are not being used as adjectives. They're being used as nouns, attributive nouns. That does not make them an adjective. – tchrist Apr 04 '17 at 16:55

2 Answers2

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The general rule with articles, when applied to adjective-modified common nouns, is that you use (or not) the article you'd use if the adjectives were not present (with the usual caveat about a/an).

So, since you would say "I joined the team" you would likewise say "I joined the Warp Engine team." The fact that the adjective "Warp Engine" is developed from a proper noun is irrelevant.

On the other hand, note that if "Warp Engine Team" is considered a proper noun then the article might or might not be used -- the use of articles with proper nouns is a bit idiosyncratic.

Hot Licks
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It varies. On a case-by-case basis.

We went up on the Empire State Building.

We were in Central Park this afternoon.

You'll need to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.

You should spend some time in Washington Square Park.

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Ricky
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