One becomes familiar with such a phenomenon as the article at the very beginning of studying English grammar. However, in addition to situations in which the familiar indefinite (a/an) and definite (the) articles are used, there are often cases when they are not used at all. This absence of a/an or the is called a zero article in English or Zero Article. Let's study the rules of use and options for using the “article that does not exist.”
Rules for using the zero article
As we already know, the key function of the article is to emphasize a specific relationship to an object, its peculiarity or abstractness. Zero article in English language reinforces the meaning of both uniqueness and commonality and shows that the object we are talking about is one of a kind, has certain properties, or is indivisible.
Let's look at the options for omitting the article according to the rules. This grammatical norm is typical for the following cases:
- Uncountable nouns and nouns denoting abstract concepts and phenomena.
Obviously, uncountable nouns imply the impossibility of individual counting, so articles are excluded. The same is true with abstract concepts (information, gravity, joy, etc.). This also includes the names of dishes (pizza, soup), sports (basketball, figure skating), diseases (insomnia - insomnia) and meals (breakfast, lunch).
All you need is love. - Love is all you need.
We run out of sallt. - We've run out of salt.
- Countable nouns in plural
One of the most popular and easily remembered cases of the absence of an article. However, it is worth noting that the use of the zero article is possible if we are talking about a group of persons or objects as such, without indicating specific situations.
Teachers have to work a lot today.- Teachers have to work a lot today (in our time).
Keys are often lost. - Keys are often lost.
- Countable nouns in the meaning of their direct function
The rule applies to the designation of public institutions (school, hospital, church, prison), as well as to such nouns as bed. Everything is simple here: if you are talking about an institution from the point of view of a visitor, and not the building itself, feel free to use the article, which is called zero.
With his stomachache, he had to go to hospital.- His stomach hurt so bad that he had to go to the hospital.
It’s eleven o’clock, it’s high time to go to bed.- It’s already 11 o’clock, it’s time to go to bed (meaning “go to bed”).
- Proper names
Another rule for using the article Zero Article that is easy to remember. A proper name implies uniqueness - and therefore there is no need to express the relationship of certainty or uncertainty here. This category includes first and last names, names of countries, cities and streets, as well as holidays.
Her name is Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.- Her name is Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
Vologda is a small city. - Vologda is a small city.<
I travel to Spain every summer.- I go to Spain every summer.
We celebrate Easter in April this year.- This year we celebrate Easter in April.
- Days of the week and months
Another case of using the zero article, which is very easy to remember.
See you on Sunday. - See you on Sunday.
He will be back in May. - He will return in May.
- News and newspaper headlines, advertisements, signs
In this case, the article is often omitted even where it is required by the rules. This simplified grammar allows you to make the information message more capacious and effective for perception.
- Set phrases
Phrases that do not require an article include the phrases “noun plus numeral”, “title, position, rank plus proper name”, as well as:
by train - by train
by car - by car
by plane - by plane
on foot - on foot
Open your workbooks on page 45.- Open the workbooks to page 45.
It’s about 1 km from here, let’s go on foot.- It’s only a kilometer from here, let’s walk!
Queen Elizabeth II was born in 1926.- Queen Elizabeth II was born in 1926.
Zero article: exceptions
Having explained when the zero article is placed, one cannot fail to mention important exceptions to the rules.
- When there is certainty.
First of all, this applies to cases when the described situation or subject is specific in the context of the conversation.
The soup we ate yesterday was awful.- The soup we ate yesterday was terrible (a specific soup at a specific time).
The information is very valuable for me.- This information is very valuable to me (precisely this information).
The students often miss lectures.- These students often miss lectures (certain company or group of students).
- Public institutions in non-functional meaning
The church was built in the 17th century.- The church was built in the 17th century (the church building itself).
Go straight ahead to the school and then turn left.- Go straight to the school (school building) and then turn left.
- Title without name
The President visits Japan next week.- The President arrives on a visit to Japan next week.
Now you know all the uses of the zero article. By carefully studying the context of the conversation and the meaning of the sentences, you can use Zero Article in the right situations without any problems.
So, articles are not used:
- With proper names
Example:
Jane is a girl I met in the camp this year. - Jane is a girl I met this summer at camp.
- before countable nouns in plural hisle when we talk about things or people generally(not being specific)
Example:
I don't like sweets. - I don't like candy.
My brother sells cars. - My brother sells cars.
- With uncountable nouns
Example:
I like iWithe-cream. - I love ice cream (Fig. 2).
There is chocolate in my bag. - There is chocolate in my bag.
Rice. 2. Ice cream ()
- ate noun expresses appeal
Example:
Boys, we don't have bread. Go and buy some! - Boys, we have no bread. Go and buy!
- with titles continents, countries, cities, states, streets, parks, areas, airports
Example:
Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe. - Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe.
Tverskayastreet is in the center of Moscow. - Tverskaya Street is located in the center of Moscow.
- before names individualislands, mountainpeaks, waterfalls And lakes(Fig. 3)
Example:
Niagara is the most famous waterfall in the world. - Niagara is the most famous waterfall in the world.
The highest mountain is Everest. - The highest mountain peak is Everest.
- before names speciessports, cardgames, chess, educationalitems, disciplines, daysweeks, months, holidays, timesof the year(Fig. 4)
Example:
Every evening my family and I play chess. - Every evening my family and I play chess.
Biology is my favorite subject at school. - Biology is my favorite school subject.
There is a lot of snow in winter. - There is a lot of snow in the winter.
- if in a sentence it comes before a noun possessivepronoun
Example:
Mysister is a dentist. - My sister is a dentist.
- before a noun that comes after another noun in a sentence possessivecase
Example:
Mysister'sdress is very beautiful. - My sister's dress is very beautiful.
- in expressions like tomorrow night, yesterdayin the morning and with words like dinner, supper, lunch, breakfast
Example:
Lastyear we went to Turkey. - Last year we went to Turkey.
Every day I eat porridge for breakfast. - Every day I eat porridge for breakfast.
- if there are demonstrative pronouns this, these, that, those
Example:
Thisyear I'm going to have a lot of exams. - I have a lot of exams this year.
- after quantitativenumerals, as well as before nouns followed by numeral
Example:
I've got threekittens at home. - I have three kittens at home.
Open your books on page15 . - Open the books to page 15.
Rice. 5. Numeral ()
- after words like some, any, no, one
Example:
There are someapples in the basket. - There are some apples in the basket.
There is nowater in the teapot. - There is no water in the kettle.
Is there anyice-cream in the fridge? - Is there ice cream in the refrigerator?
Pay attention to the use of articles with namesplacesstay people without specific reference to them.
Let's compare two situations:
Nina goes to school every day. - Nina goes to school every day. (Howpupil)
My mother went to theschool to talk to the teacher. - My mother went to school to talk to the teacher. (To the school building(Fig. 6) )
To better understand and assimilate the features of use indefinite article, you must do the following exercise.
I.Insert article where necessary
- I like to readbooks.
- Do you go to work bybus?
- Do you like chocolate?
- We had dinner at 7 o’clock.
- People need food.
- We are planning to go to Italynext summer.
- Several museums in this city are devoted to modern art.
- He was sent toprison for his crime.
- IsEverest the highest mountain in the world?
- He graduated from Moscow State University in 1997.
Answers to the exercise:
- I like to read books.
- Do you go to work by bus?
- Do you like chocolate?
- We had dinner at 7 o’clock.
- People need food.
- We are planning to go to Italy next summer.
- Several museums in this city are devoted to modern art.
- He was sent to prison for his crime.
- She had studied business law for two years.
- Is Everest the highest mountain in the world?
- He graduated from Moscow State University in 1997.
- Fifth Avenue separates the East Side of Manhattan from the West Side.
Nouns in English are divided into countable And uncountable.
TO countablenoun include items/objects that can be counted. Such nouns can be used in both singular and plural, used with both definite and indefinite articles (Fig. 7).
Rice. 7. Bob is a countable noun ()
Countable nouns can be like subject, so collective.
Subject nouns:
a pupil - five pupils
a table - many tables
an engineer - engineers
Collective nouns:
a family - families
an army - armies
TO uncountable noun belong to words that denote substances or concepts that cannot be counted. Such nouns are not used with the indefinite article and are used only in the singular. Uncountable nouns are used with pronouns such as much- a lot (much milk), little- a little, little (little water), some- several, some and any- some, some.
Rice. 8. Milk is an uncountable noun ()
Uncountable nouns can be real(materials; bulk, liquid, gaseous substances; food products) or abstract(actions, states, natural phenomena, feelings).
Real nouns:
Abstract nouns:
Uncountable nouns denoting substance can sometimes be used with articles when they denote portions.
Example:
Can I have coffee please?
When talking about country names, we usually do not use articles, but there are exceptions.
If Namecountries used in plural, then the article is used the(Fig. 9).
Example:
The Philippines s
the United State s
Also the definite article will be used if in namecountries there are words like kingdom, republic.
Example:
The United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Rice. 9. Definite article ()
Nouns in English have twocase: general And genitive (possessive ). Nouns in in generalcase have no endings and answer the question Who?/What? For education possessivecase it is necessary to add a suffix at the end of the noun -’ s with an apostrophe in front of it.
Example:
Boy ’ s, girl ’ s
The same applies to nouns pluralnumbers, which are formed not according to the rules(Fig. 10).
Example:
Men 's, children 's
Rice. 10. Possessive case ()
If a noun forms pluralnumberByrules, then to form the possessive case at the end of the noun you only need to put an apostrophe ( ’ ).
Example:
Workers ’ , soldiers ’
Compare:
This is the boy 's book. - This is a book boy A.
These are the boys ’ books. - These are books boy ov.
Nouns in the possessive case usually act as a definition of another noun and express ownership in the broad sense of the word.
Example:
The children's toys - toys ( whose?) children
The girl's story - story ( whose?) girls
Sheep's eyes - eyes ( whose?) sheep
Nouns meaning inanimateitems, as a rule, in this case Notare used.
Bibliography
- Afanasyeva O.V., Mikheeva I.V. English language. 9th grade. - M.: Bustard, 2008.
- Baranova K.M., Dooley D., Kopylova V.V. English language. - M.: Education, 2011.
- Biboletova M.Z., Trubaneva N.N. English language. 9th grade. - M.: Title, 2008.
Homework
- Ex. 23 Golitsynsky Yu. Grammar: Sat. exercises. - 7th ed., - St. Petersburg: KARO, 2011. - P. 22.
- Ex. 34 Golitsynsky Yu. Grammar: Sat. exercises. - 7th ed., - St. Petersburg: KARO, 2011. - P. 30.
- Translate into English, paying attention to the peculiarities of the use of articles:
a) Where is your brother now? - He is at home.
b) Our children are at school now.
c) She has three sisters. Two sisters are students, and one is a schoolgirl.
d) When Olya smiles, all 32 teeth are visible.
f) Their apartment is on the 5th floor.
g) Who cooks dinner in your family?
h) India is a very colorful country.
- Internet portal Alleng.ru ().
- Internet portal Learngle.com ().
- Internet portal Bbc.co.uk ().
Hello, dear visitors of our site! I hope you are in a great mood to look at the non-use of articles in English today. This phenomenon in English grammar is called Zero Article. The zero article in English is a very tricky and tricky thing, because there are quite a lot of rules for using the zero article in English. Today we will look at the main and most common of them.
When is the article NOT used in English?Cases of using the English zero article
So, let's start with the main thing - let's list the main cases when the article is NOT used:
1) in sentences with abstract nouns that have a general meaning.
For example:
- Friendship is all you need. - Friendship is all you need.
- Silence is very precious nowadays. — Silence is very valuable these days.
2) with the names of countries, cities, with the names of firms, companies, trademarks, with names, with surnames, etc.
3) in stable phrases
- Have breakfast - have breakfast
- Have lunch - have lunch
- Have dinner - have dinner
- Have supper - have dinner
For example:
- I have lunch at twelve o’clock. — I have lunch at twelve o'clock.
- John has supper at home. — John is having dinner at home.
4) in the following stable phrases:
- At school - at school
- At home - at home
- At work - at work
For example:
- I left my bag at school. — I left my bag at school.
- My mother is at home today. — My mother is at home today.
- We are at work every day. — We are at work every day.
5) before the words: church - church, bed - bed, work - work, school - school; and also in the following phrases:
- Go to bed - go to bed
- Go to work - go to work
- Go to school - go to school
- Go to church - go to church
For example:
- She goes to bed early. — She goes to bed early.
- Tom goes to work with pleasure. — Tom goes to work with pleasure.
- They go to school together. — They go to school together.
- She goes to church every Sunday. — She goes to church every Sunday.
6) Also, the article is not used in such expressions as:
- At half past five - at half past five
- To go home - go home
- To come home - return (come) home
For example:
- I come home at half past five. — I return home at half past six.
7) before the names of months and days of the week. For example:
- We finished our task in March. — We completed our task in March.
- Tom comes to me on Sunday. — Tom comes to see me on Sunday.
8) The article is not used before the names of sciences, academic subjects and languages. For example:
- We study chemistry. — We study chemistry.
- We have history twice a week. — We have history twice a week.
- I like English. - I love English).
9) with the names of sports and games:
- To play football/tennis/badminton/hockey/basketball/volleyball, etc. - play football, tennis, badminton, etc.
- I like to play badminton with my friends. — I like to play badminton with my friends.
10) with the names of the seasons, unless a specific time of year with some event is meant. For example:
- In summer we go on vacation.- In summer we go on vacation.
BUT: Do you remember the summer we were in Moscow? — Do you remember that summer when we were in Moscow?
11) Use of the zero article between a possessive pronoun and a noun. For example:
- My mother - my mother
- your friend - your friend
- our house - our house, etc.
Well, that's it friends, these were the main and most significant cases of the zero article or Zero Article in the English language. Be careful in studying the basic rules for using the zero article in English, try to remember them and you will never make mistakes in your English speech.
Thank you for your attention and see you again!
It is generally accepted that there are two articles in English – the definite and the indefinite. But from a grammatical point of view, there are three of them - there is also a zero article in English. It is expressed in the absence of an article before a word. It is distinguished as a separate type of article and given a name for the reason that it has a meaning, like the definite or indefinite types. This is not just the absence of an article, but a significant absence. In English the zero article is called zeroarticle .
The zero article is used in a number of cases, which you need to know in the same way as the rules for using the definite or indefinite article. Some cases can be explained from a grammatical point of view, in others the article is not used simply because it happened so during the development of language.
The article is not placed before plural countable nouns, which would require an indefinite article if they were singular.
My parents are teachers. — My parents are teachers.
Compare:
My father is a teacher.
— My father is a teacher. 
The zero article is used before uncountable nouns, which are used in a general sense, without specification, without reference to specific situations.
Do you like tea?- Do you like tea?
Compare:
Theteawasreallygood. — The tea was really good.
The article is not required before abstract nouns that express general concepts.
Don'tgivehimadvice - Don't advise him anything.
When there are other determiners before the noun - for example, possessive pronouns, indefinite pronouns or numerals - the zero article is used.
Ilikehercoat
— I like her coat. 
Exceptions to the rules
Some situations and expressions with the zero article just need to be remembered, because they are not built on logic, but have developed this way historically. For example, the article is not placed before proper names, with the exception of the surname, when it means the whole family: StephenBrownboutTheBrowns. The article is not used together with nouns denoting: meals (breakfast, dinner, lunch), sports and other games (football, basketball, poker), of the year ( in 1998), names of languages (English, Spanish), holidays, certain establishments and institutions with prepositions ( toschool, incollege ).
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Zero article(English) zero article) - such significant absence of article, which correlates and is compared with the presence of a definite or indefinite article and, like these articles, carries a semantic load. An example of a significant absence of an article (= an example of a zero article) is, first of all, the non-use / omission of the article before nouns denoting any substance and abstract categories: water - water, snow - snow, beauty - beauty, love - love, etc. The absence of an article before a singular noun means that the noun expresses this concept in the most general form, without classification and individualization (this does not apply to specific situations, for example, the need to omit the article in circulation).
The zero article is used (=the article is not used):
- If the noun is preceded by another determiner, for example a possessive, demonstrative or interrogative pronoun, as well as the pronoun some, any, no, each, every: “our dog” - “our dog”, “those cars” - “those cars”, “What table?" - "Which table?"
- Before nouns that are preceded by an indefinite article in the singular and which, accordingly, do not have an article in the plural: " A body moves under the action of some force." - "The body moves under the action of some force."
- Before plural countable nouns, which are used in general statements, declarations: "__Children like ice cream." - "Children love ice cream."
- With uncountable nouns used in general statements, declarations, mainly denoting a substance, mass: “water” - “water”, “milk” - “milk”, “sugar” - “sugar”, “sand” - “sand” .
- If a noun is preceded by another noun in the possessive case: "__Jack 's 's
- Before most proper names: "__Tolstoy is my favorite writer." - "Tolstoy is my favorite writer."
- In structures containing a proper name, if the proper name is used in the genitive case: "__Nelson's tomb" - "the grave of (who?) Nelson."
- The article is omitted before abstract nouns, before plural nouns to indicate that an object belongs to any class of objects (with the verbs “to have”, “to see”, etc., with the phrase “there are”, in the nominal part of a compound predicate ) with and without a descriptive definition; before a noun in a sentence, unless the fame of the person to whom it refers is emphasized; in exclamatory sentences after “what” before plural countable nouns. including: "The work gives him __satisfaction." - "The work brings him satisfaction." "I like to read __English books." - "I love reading English books." "What lovely __flowers!" - “What wonderful flowers!” "The three sisters are all __teachers." "All three sisters are teachers."
- Before a noun qualified by the words "next" meaning "future" and "last" meaning "past": "I went to Spain for my holiday __last year, and I am going there __next year too." - “Last year I was on holiday in Spain and I will go there again next year.”
- Before nouns denoting the names of days, months and seasons: “on __Friday” - “on Friday”, “in __October” - “in October”, “in __winter” - “in winter”.
- If after a noun there is a cardinal number in the ordinal sense: “__lesson ten” - “lesson ten (tenth lesson)”, “__page twenty-five” - “page 25 (twenty-fifth page)”.
- After the verb "to be" and some other verbs before a predicate denoting a position held by one person at a time: "Who is __manager of the office?" - “Who is in charge of this institution?”
- Before a noun as an address: “What are you doing here, girls?” - “What are you doing here, girls__?”
- Before a noun that stands with proper names and denotes titles, ranks (scientific, military) or serves as a form of address: "__Mr. Brown wishes to see __Dr. Smith." - "Mr. Brown wants to see Dr. Smith."
- Before the names of sciences: "I like __Literature." - "I love literature."
- Before nouns in headlines, announcements and telegrams: "__Polish Delegation arrives in Moscow." - "The Polish delegation arrives in Moscow."
- Before nouns denoting members of the same family, relatives or friends, if they are used as proper names (in the speech of members of this family): "Father" - "dad", "Mother" - "mom", "Aunt" - " aunt", "Uncle" - "uncle", "Nurse" - "nanny", "Baby" - "kid", "Child" - "child".
- Before such nouns as "advice", "information", "money", "hair", "fruit" in the absence of a limiting definition: "This is __important information." "This is important information."
- Before the noun "permission": "He asked me for __permission to stay away." - “He asked my permission to refrain from participating.” With prepositional phrases used to mean circumstances. Often these are phrases with such nouns as “school” - “school”, “college” - “college”, “market” - “market”, “town” - “city”, “prison” - “prison”, “jail” - “investigative prison”, “court” - “court”, “hospital” - “hospital”, “camp” - “camp”, “bed” - “bed”, “table” - “table” usually with prepositions at, into, to, from, after.
- Before the names of holidays containing the word "day": "before Victory Day" - "before Victory Day".
- With the exclamation what and the demonstrative pronoun such before the words “news” - “news”, “weather” - “weather”, “advice” - “advice”, “progress” - “development, progress”, etc. (given below)
- Before a noun after the verbs “to be, act / work as, make, appoint, run for” - “to be, work / work as, do, appoint, nominate” if the noun denotes a position held by only one person: “He was running for __Mayor." - "He ran for mayor."
- Before nouns society opinion in the meaning of "type of groups", mankind in the meaning of “humanity”: “socialist / communist / capitalist / bourgeois / civilized / consumer society” - “socialist / communist / capitalist / bourgeois / civilized / consumer society.”
- With nouns “breakfast” - “breakfast”, “lunch” - “lunch snack”, “dinner” - lunch, “supper” - “dinner”, “tea” - “tea drinking”, to give them a more general meaning - usually process meal (cf. “during lunch”, “after tea”, etc.).
- Before nouns used in pairs and connected by prepositions like from... to (till) the bed" - "go To beds", "to go to the
Now let's look at all the points in more detail.
The article is not used if the noun is preceded by another determiner (see more), for example, a possessive, demonstrative or interrogative pronoun, as well as the pronoun some, any, no, each, every: "my brother" - "my brother", "this country " - "this country", "What story?" - "What story?" "some students" - "several students", "no mistake" - "not a single mistake", "each pupil" - "every student", "every day" - "every day".
Nouns preceded by an indefinite article in the singular (see more details), accordingly, do not have an article in the plural (due to the fact that the indefinite article a simply does not have a plural form, since one of its meanings is “one” : you can say “a book” - “one book”, but it is forbidden say "a bookS" - "one book"): " A body moves under the action of some force." - "The body moves under the action of some force." But: "__Bodies move under the action of some force." - "Bodies move under the action of some force."
The zero article is used before plural countable nouns, which are used in general statements, declarations: "__Men are fond of hunting." - "Men like hunting." "__Dogs should eat meat." - "Dogs should eat meat." "__Oranges are good for you." - "Oranges are good for you."
The absence of an article is typical for uncountable nouns, that is, those that do not have a plural form, which are used in general statements and declarations. Basically, these are nouns denoting a substance, a mass: “water” - “water”, “milk” - “milk”, “sugar” - “sugar”, “sand” - “sand”, “light” - “light” , "air" - "air", "tea" - "tea", "cotton" - "cotton", "grass" - "grass", etc.: "I like __ice-cream." - "I like ice cream." "__Red is my favorite color." - "Red is my favorite color." "__Coffee is produced in Brazil." - "Coffee is produced in Brazil."
Since the indefinite article is usually used with nouns denoting individual countable objects, and the absence of an article is typical for nouns expressing the name of a material (substance) and abstract concepts, then:
- the absence of an article before nouns, which usually have a specific meaning, gives the word more abstract meaning: "This end wall is all __window." - “This end wall is a continuous source of light.”
- the use of the indefinite article before nouns usually used without an article, narrows the volume concepts, and the whole combination denotes a kind of substance or a certain amount of it: "__Tea is one of the most important crops of South-Western India. If a shilling was given me by Mr. Quinion at any time, I spent it on a dinner or a tea." - "Tea is one of the most important agricultural crops of South-West India. At any time, if I received a shilling from Mr. Quignon, I spent it on dinner or a cup of tea [Dickens]."
The meaning of the word "tea" in the first example is "tea" (the name of the product), in the second - "a portion of tea" (a cup or glass of tea). Some nouns in their basic meaning are not used with the indefinite article at all: “weather” - “weather”, “progress” - “development”, “work” - “work”, “information” - “information”, “permission” - “ permission", "advice" - "advice": "It was __exhausting work carried on, hour after hour, at top speed." - "It was grueling work, going on hour after hour, at top speed [London]." "He gives me __good advice." - "He gives me good advice." "It was __cold still weather." - "It was cold and windless [Dickens]." Ho: "It is not meant to be a great literary work, it is meant to be a history of the building of Socialism." - "It meant to be a great literary work, it meant to be the history of the building of socialism."
The article is not used if the noun is preceded by another noun in the possessive case: "__Jack 's family" - "Jack's family", "__England 's industry" - "industry of England".
In combinations such as " the teacher's book - "teacher's book" the article refers to, in this case, the word "teacher" - "teacher", and not the word "book" - "book".
In the model " word / group of words in the possessive case+ noun" the article refers to the definition. Do not use an article unless the definition requires an article. For example, "at __today's / __yesterday's / __tomorrow's / __next week's / __last year's / __last Tuesday's, etc. festival" - "at today's / yesterday's / tomorrow's / future next week's / last year's / last Tuesday's, etc. holiday", "__New York's tallest building" - "__Martin's second wife" - "Martin's second wife", "__Japan's second largest city" - "The second largest city in Japan" (but: "the world's highest mountain" - "the highest mountain in the world").
The article is not placed before most proper names, since a proper name is quite specific and does not require further clarification: "__Tolstoy is my favorite writer." - "Tolstoy is my favorite writer." "__London is the capital of England." - "London is the capital of England." But: Subject to availability limiting definitions use the article the: "I mean the Tolstoy who wrote "Peter I". - "I mean ( Togo) Tolstoy, who wrote "Peter I".
The article is omitted before abstract nouns (which include the names of social phenomena, sciences, emotions, etc.), before plural nouns to indicate that an object belongs to any class of objects (with the verbs “to have”, “to see”, etc., with the phrase “there are”, in the nominal part of a compound predicate) with and without a descriptive definition; before a noun in a sentence, unless the fame of the person to whom it refers is emphasized; in exclamatory sentences after “what” before plural countable nouns. including: "The work gives him __satisfaction." - "The work brings him satisfaction." "I like to read __English books." - "I love reading English books." "What lovely __flowers!" - “What wonderful flowers!” "The three sisters are all __teachers." "All three sisters are teachers."
The article is not used before a noun defined by the words “next” in the meaning of “future” and “last” in the meaning of “past” (if the noun denotes time): “I went to Spain for my holiday __last year, and I am going there __next year too." - “Last year I was on holiday in Spain and I will go there again next year.”
The article is not used before nouns denoting the names of days, months and seasons: “on __Friday” - “on Friday”, “in __October” - “in October”, “in __winter” - “in winter”. When it means certain date or period (expressed grammatically with the preposition of), used definite article: "the winter of 1941" - "winter of 1941", "the October of 1917" - "October 1917": "Not returned after the Monday of the explosion." - "He returned after (that) Monday when the explosion occurred"
A noun is used without an article if it is followed by a cardinal number in the ordinal sense: “__lesson ten” - “lesson ten (tenth lesson)”, “__page twenty-five” - “page 25 (twenty-fifth page)”, “Take __bus six " - "Take the bus six." (but: "Take a six bus" - "Take bus number six").
The article is not placed before street names with an ordinal number: "The main New York Public Library is located on __Fifth Avenue between __40th Street and __42nd Street." "The main New York Public Library is located on Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd streets."
When an adverb comes first, or when it has the meaning of an adjective (= "the most important" - "the most important", "the best" - "the best", "the earliest" - "the earliest") and in some phraseological units ( stable phrases), the numeral “first” is used without an article: “Ladies __first” - “Ladies first” “With him business comes __first.” - “His business comes first.” "Finish your work __first." - "Finish your work first." "She came __first (= won the race)." - "She came first (= won the race)." "He took __first place." - "He took first place." "She won __first prize." - "She won first prize." "They traveled __first class." - "They traveled first class." "I'll do it, __first thing tomorrow morning." - "I'll do it first thing tomorrow morning." "Do you believe in love at __first sight?" - "Do you believe in love at first sight?"
The article is omitted after the verb "to be" and some other verbs before the predicate ( predicate- the nominal part of a compound, expressed not just by one verb, a predicate, for example: “I became a doctor,” where “became” is the verbal part of the compound predicate, and “doctor” is a predicative), denoting a position occupied at a time by one person: “Who is __manager of the office?" - “Who is in charge of this institution?” In this case, the definite article ( the manager), for comments on the last case, see .
The article is not used before a noun, as an address: “How old are you, __young man?” - “How old are you, young man?”
The article is omitted before a noun that stands with proper names and denotes titles, ranks (scientific, military) or serves as a form of address: "__Academician N. died several years ago." - "Academician N. died several years ago." "Can I speak to __captain Jones?" - "May I speak to Captain Jones?" "__Mr. Brown wishes to see __Dr. Smith." - "Mr. Brown wants to see Dr. Smith." Please note that such nouns preceding proper nouns are capitalized.
The zero article is used with names of sciences: “I like __Literature and __History, but I don’t like __Mathematics.” "I love literature and history, but I don't like mathematics."
The article is not placed before nouns in headlines, announcements and telegrams: "__Polish Delegation arrives in Moscow." - "The Polish delegation arrives in Moscow." In some cases, articles in newspaper headlines, however, are retained; for example, if the article is part of a phraseological unit (stable expression): “Soviet Town Planners Take a Look" - "Soviet city planners get acquainted[Daily Worker]" "U.S. Clock Firm In Australia Calls It a Day" - "American watch company in Australia finishes work[Daily Worker]."
Articles are not used before nouns denoting members of the same family, relatives or friends, if they are used as proper names (in the speech of members of this family). Such nouns are often written with a capital letter: "Father" - "dad", "Mother" - "mom", "Aunt" - "aunt", "Uncle" - "uncle", "Nurse" - "nanny", "Baby" " - "baby", "Child" - "child": "Has __Mother come back yet?" - “Mom is back already?” "__Father wants to speak to you." - “Father wants to talk to you.”
The article is not needed before such nouns as “advice”, “information”, “money”, “hair”, “fruit”, in the absence of a limiting definition (a definition like “..., that/that/those which/s). .."): "This is __important information." "This is important information." "I need __advice badly." "I really need some advice."
The noun "permission" is never used with an article: "He asked me for __permission / got __permission / was given __permission to stay away." - “He asked me / received / was given permission to refrain from participating.”
The absence of an article is typical for prepositional phrases used in the meaning of circumstances. Often these are phrases with such nouns as “school” - “school”, “college” - “college”, “market” - “market”, “town” - “city”, “prison” - “prison”, “jail” - “investigative prison”, “court” - “court”, “hospital” - “hospital”, “camp” - “camp”, “bed” - “bed”, “table” - “table” usually with prepositions at, into, to, from, after. These nouns in similar phrases mean not objects and institutions, and that one activity or state with which they are associated; Wed Russian: “it turned out at the table...”, “after school” (= after classes), etc.
When used with an article, these nouns fully retain the meaning of objectivity, cf.: The light of fire and candle shone upon us, seated warm and merry, at __table. - "The light from the fireplace and candle fell on us, warm and lively, sitting at [Dickens's] table." "Taking a step or two towards the table, he said... " - "Taking a step or two towards the table, he said... [Dickens]"
Same thing with the union as in the meaning “as”: “I remained an intimate of its walls for eight years: six as __pupil, and two as __teacher.” “I remained imprisoned within its walls for eight years: six as a student and two as [Brontë’s] teacher.” He had imagined himself speaking and acting half as __man, half as __judge. - "He imagined himself speaking and acting partly like a man, partly like a judge [Galsworthy]."
The article may be omitted in a colloquial style of speech in incomplete sentences: ""Married?" "__Widower, sir. Two children" ." - "" Married?" "Widower, sir. Two children."[Galsworthy]." "Your mother’s an uncommonly clever woman, you know. __Cleverest woman I’ve ever known." - "Your mother is an extraordinarily smart woman, you know. The smartest woman I ever knew [Beresford]."
The established tradition prohibits the use of an article before the names of holidays containing the word "day": "before / after New Year's Day / Victory Day / V-E Day / Constitution Day / Independence Day / Thanksgiving Day / All Fools' Day" - "before / after the New Year / Victory Day / Day of Germany’s surrender to the Allied forces / Constitution Day / Independence Day / Thanksgiving Day / All Fools Day.”
It is incorrect to use an article with an exclamation what and demonstrative pronoun such before the words "news" - "news", "weather" - "weather", "advice" - "advice", "progress" - "development, progress" "information" - "information, information" as well as the noun "work " - "work" (activity and position), "evidence" - "testimony; evidence, evidence", "damage" - "damage": " What beautiful flowers!" - "What beautiful flowers!" "I’ve never seen such computers." - "I've never seen such computers." Whereas singular countable nouns in this model are used with the indefinite article (as shown).
As a rule, the article is not used before a noun after the verbs "to be, act / work as, make, appoint, run for" - "to be, work / work as, do, appoint, nominate" if the noun denotes a position held only by one person: "He was running for __Mayor." - "He ran for mayor." "He was elected __chairman." - He was elected chairman." "hey made him __headmaster." - "They made him director." "In Mr Taylor's absence Mr Brooks acted as __manager." - "In Mr Taylor's absence Mr Brooks acted as __manager." - "In Mr Taylor's absence Mr Brooks acted as __manager." "
The article is not used before nouns society in the meaning of "social order", opinion in the meaning of "type of groups", mankind in the meaning of “humanity”: “socialist / communist / capitalist / bourgeois / civilized / consumer society” - “socialist / communist / capitalist / bourgeois / civilized / consumer society”, “public opinion” - “public opinion”, “world public opinion " - "world public opinion", "mankind" - "humanity", "all mankind" - "all humanity".
A noun in of-phrases followed by the words “kind” - “kind”, “type” - type, “sort” - variety, “style” - “type, sort”, mainly used without an article: “this kind of person(s)" - "this type of person(s)", "that sort of thing(s)" - "this kind of thing(s)", "this type of film(s)" - "this type of film (s)" "What kind of person is he?" - “What kind of person is he?” “What kind of people are they?” - “What kind of people are they?”
The nouns "breakfast" - "breakfast", "lunch" - "lunch snack", "dinner" - "lunch", "supper" - "dinner", "tea" - "tea party" without an article have a more general meaning - usually process meals (cf. “during lunch”, “after tea”, etc.), while when using the definite article before them, the very essence of the subject is implied, everything that it is associated with in our imagination, and this opposition is more it is clear from the example: " The dinner is the supreme meal of the day." - Lunch (everything that is meant by it - what time - what menu - what is the setting, etc.) - the main meal of the day [Christie]. "We had almost finished __dinner, when taking a step towards the table, I said... " - "We had almost finished dinner (that is, eating), when, taking a step towards the table, I said... [Dickens]"
There is no article before nouns used in pairs and connected by prepositions like from... to (till)..., before nouns denoting meeting places where people go for the main purpose: to be in __hospital (for treatment), "to be in __prison" - "to be in prison" (as punishment), "to be at __table" - “sit at the table” (eating food), “to go to market” - “to go to the market” (buy or sell), “in court” - “in court” (in court), “to go to __bed” - "go to bed" (to sleep), "go to __school" - "go to school" (to study), but "to go to the bed" - "go To beds", "to go to the school" - "to go to school, to the school building."
On the other hand, when the noun is used in the sense of “buildings” rather than “activities,” the article should be used: “Go past the school, then turn to the left." - "Go past the school and turn left." "I went to the hospital to see my brother, who had just been operated on." - “I went to the hospital to see my brother, who had just been operated on.”
The article is also omitted in a number of frozen phraseological combinations in which the noun has become an integral part of the combination: “to go on __foot” - “to walk”, “at __home” - “at home”, “__hand in __hand” - “hand in hand” , “by __day” - “day”, “by __night” - “at night”, etc. They often have (answering the questions “how? - where? - where? - when? - when?”). The most characteristic from the point of view of the presence or absence of this or that article are the combinations given below:
| Verbal: | |
|---|---|
| to have a (good) time | (a good time |
| to have a smoke (a bite, etc.) | smoke (snack) |
| to have a look, etc. | look (at something/someone) |
| to have a headache (a cold i t. n.) | suffer from a headache (cold) |
| to take the floor | take the floor |
| to have dinner (supper, lunch, tea) But: to have a good dinner |
have lunch (dinner, breakfast, tea) |
| to take the trouble | take on the work... |
| to play the piano (the violin, etc.) | play the piano (violin) |
| to tell the time | show/tell what time it is |
| to tell the truth | to tell the truth |
| to take part (in) | take part (in) |
| to take place | happen |
| to take care (of) | look after/look after |
| to drop (cast) anchor | drop anchor |
| to lose sight (of) | lose sight of, forget, lose sight of |
| to declare war | to declare a war |
| to give (to get) permission | allow (get permission) |
| to play football (chess, cards, etc.) | play football (chess, cards) |
| to make use (of) | use, apply |
| to go to school | attend school |
| to go to bed | go/go to bed |
| to go to market (to court) | go to the market (go to court) |
| to go to sea | go to sea (go to the sea) |
| to go to camp | go to camp |
| to go for a walk | go for a walk/go for a walk |
| to go to the cinema (the theater) | going to the cinema) |
| to go to (to return to, to come from) town | come (return) to the city / come from the city |
| to be in bed | stay (stay) in bed |
| to be in town | be in the city |
| to be in prison (hospital, etc.) | to be in prison (to be in hospital) |
| to be in debt | to be in debt (to be in debt) |
| to be in time | to get in time |
| to be in a hurry | hurry |
| to be in a position | be able to |
| to be at a loss | be indecisive |
| to be on board (on deck) | be on board (on deck) |
| to be on sale | sell |
| to be in (high) demand | to be in (great) motion |
| Circumstantial meaning: | |
|---|---|
| at night (at sunset to t. n.) | at night (at sunset/at sunset) |
| at midnight (at noon) | at midnight (noon) |
| by day | during the day |
| by train (tram, bus, boat) | by train (tram, bus, ship) |
| by air (sea, land) | by plane (sea, land) |
| by post | by mail |
| by heart | by heart |
| by chance | accidentally |
| by mistake | by mistake |
| by name | by name |
| at table | at the table |
| at school | At school |
| in fact | In fact |
| in conclusion | Finally |
| at a distance of Ho: in the distance |
on distance... in the distance |
| at a depth of | at a depth... |
| at a size of | at the rate of... |
| at a width of | to the width... |
| at a time when | at a time when... |
| side by side | side by side |
| shoulder to shoulder | shoulder to shoulder |
| hand in hand | hand in hand |
| arm in arm | hand in hand |
| day by day | from day to day |
| day after day | day after day |
| at home | Houses |
| at work | At work |
| at peace (at war) | in the world (at war) |
| to at camp | in the camp |
| at (after, during) dinner (supper, breakfast) | at (after, during) lunch (dinner, breakfast) |
| from window to window | from window to window |
| from head to foot | from head to toe (toes) |
| from word to word | from word to word |
| from day to day | from day to day, from day to day |
Materials used in preparing the article
- Arbekova, T. I. English without errors: Textbook. manual for institutes and faculties. foreign language - M.: Higher. school, 1985. (pp. 134-144)
- Barkhudarov, L.S., Stehling D.A. English grammar. – M.: Publishing house of literature in foreign languages, 1960. (pp. 47, 57-60, 68-70)
- Belyaeva, M.A. English grammar. – M.: State Publishing House "Higher School", 1963. (pp. 29-30)
- Verba, L.G., Verba, G.V. Grammar of modern English. - Kyiv: Logos, 2001. (pp. 148-149)
- Kozhaeva, M.G., Kozhaeva, O.S. Revision Tables Student's Grammar Guide. English grammar in tables: textbook. manual - M.: Flinta: Nauka, 2010. (pp. 11-14)
- Mandel, B. R. Modern Russian language: history, theory, practice and culture of speech. Book I. Illustrated textbook. - M.: Direct-Media, 2014 (p. 474)