Articles are not always necessary. A noun can be correctly used in a sentence without a definite article or indefinite article preceding it. In such a case, the term zero article is used.
Examples:
-
He travels to work by train.
(Not: He travels to work by a/the train.)
-
She loves taking photos of caterpillars.
(Not: She loves taking photos of the caterpillars.)
No article is used when making generalization with plural countable nouns and singular uncountable nouns.
Examples:
- Cars are still expensive for lower-income people. (Countable noun)
- Flying is far safer than driving. (Uncountable noun)
-
He loves drawing wild horses. (Countable noun)
(Not: He loves drawing the wild horses.)
-
If we go by train, we will save time on our journey. (Uncountable noun)
(Not: If we go by train, we will save the time on our journey.)
Zero article:
Examples:
for general statements:
-
Pigs are farm animals.
(Not: The pigs are farm animals.)
- Bats are nocturnal creatures.
-
Ice floats on water.
before plural countable nouns:
-
He bought red plastic roses for her.
(Not: He bought the red plastic roses for her.)
- We travelled through different countries, working in restaurants.
-
She is inviting only female friends for her birthday dinner.
No article is required before uncountable nouns.
-
We drink alcohol-free beer for dinner.
(Not: We drink the alcohol-free beer for dinner.)
- Those statues are carved in white marble.
-
Trees absorb carbon dioxide which animals breathe out.
before abstract nouns used in a general sense:
-
It is said that money cannot buy happiness.
(Not: Money cannot buy the happiness.)
-
We always expect total honesty from our employees.
(Not: We always expect the total honesty from our employees.)
before proper nouns:
-
He is a fan of Michael Jackson.
(Not: He is a fan of the Michael Jackson.)
-
She gave birth to twins in June.
(Not: She gave birth to twins in the June.)
before illness:
- She came down with measles and had to stay in bed.
- Not: She came down with the measles and had to stay in bed.
- Our family doctor suffers from asthma.
- Not: Our family doctor suffers from the asthma.
before illness:
-
She came down with measles and had to stay in bed.
(Not: She came down with the measles and had to stay in bed.)
-
Our family doctor suffers from asthma.
(Not: Our family doctor suffers from the asthma.)
before name of materials:
-
Gold is found in Australia.
(Not: The gold is found in Australia.
-
They are mining for tin.
(Not: They are mining for the tin.)
before the name of cities, states, countries, islands, or mountains:
-
India achieved independence in 1947.
(Not: The India achieved independence in 1947.)
-
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain.
(Not: The Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain.)