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The use of the ZERO ARTICLE (no article)
No article is used for general, open-ended reference to any or all members of a class.
Articles are not used with: 1) plural countable nouns: They packed goods in bags. These can be modified by adjectives or other phrases: people throughout the country, local museums, world nations. 2) uncountable nouns (always singular): a) abstract: Knowledge is power. b) colours: Yellow seems to be very warm. c) food and drink: I like cheese. Lemonade has too much sugar in it. d) substances / materials: The house is made of stone. Water boils at 100°C. e) activities: Reading is a real pleasure. f) sports/ games: Millions of fans all over the world enjoy watching hockey. g) politics/philosophy: Feudalism is a political and economic system of Medieval Europe. Positivism claims that sciences are the only source of true knowledge. h) languages: English, German, Chinese; but: the English language. i) academic subjects and related topics: He is good at literature. But: We study the literature of the 20th century; with adjectival combinations: Renaissance Art, Medieval Theatre, Ancient philosophy. 3) 4) names of meals: breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, supper. They sat down to tea. Breakfast begins at 8 o'clock. But: The lunch we ate in that bar was modest (the meal is specified). She gave us a very nice dinner. (the meal is classified) 5) names of places at home, in bed, at work, in hospital, at college, in prison, in church when we refer to their "primary purpose", that is the activity associated with them: She is taken to hospital. (to be treated) He was sent to prison (to serve the term of punishment). NOTE: to be in the bed = an article of furniture is meant; to go to the prison = the building is meant; to leave the college = to leave the building; The workmen went to the church to repair the roof (They didn't go to a religious service.) 6) transport: by air, by car, by plane, by train, by tube, on foot, etc.: Travelling by air is very convenient. 7) names of illnesses: bronchitis, pneumonia, quinsy, malaria, etc.But: the can be used with some common infectious diseases: (the) flu, (the) measles, (the) mumps. 8) "pairs" joined by and: day and night, father and son, husband and wife, light and dark, young and old, son and moon:She couldn't stop thinking about it day and night. 9) an uncountable noun or a plural countable after what and such: What lovely weather! What chatter-boxes you are! They were such idlers! Such love can only be seen in films. 10) the words television or TV when we refer to the medium itself or programmes: Sally played small parts on television. But: Will you turn down the TV? (the TV set is referred to). 11) the words radio, cinema, movies, opera, ballet, theatre when we refer to them in very general terms as art forms or as professions: Television is one of the greatest inventions of the post-Second World War time. Amateur theatre was actually the first step in his artistic career NOTE: When we are going to enjoy a form of entertainment we use the definite article: Why not go to the movies for a change? Last Sunday I went to the opera with my son and we had an enjoyable night.
E x e r c i s e s
2.1. Rewrite the sentences using singular nouns with a or an if necessary instead of plural nouns in italics. 1) Dogs make good pets. – A dog makes a good pet. 2) Lawyers usually earn more than policemen. 3) You don't often see good programmes on TV nowadays. 4) Sons are always a lot more trouble than daughters. 5) Nowadays you can buy computer-controlled washing machines. 6) I hate to hear children crying or dogs barking. 7) Has anyone seen newspapers in the sitting room? 8) It's not easy to learn foreign languages which are very different from your own language. 9) Last night I saw interesting TV programmes about Eastern Europe. 10) Sheep are grass-eating animals kept for their flesh and wool. 11) Modern physical science is unable to explain phenomena of this sort. 12) Mice are small and shy animals but they can do a lot of harm. 13) The old gentleman gave Phillip six pennies. (шесть монет достоинством в один пенс каждая. Употребите слово, обозначающее одну монету достоинством в шесть пенсов).
2.2. Correct any errors. Put in a/an or nothing. 1) I'll try to give you a decent lunch. 2) They must have the third game to decide who is the real winner. 3) Have you got shampoo for a dry hair? 4) He made the effort to collect himself. 5) It was real pleasure to him to give a pleasure to others. 6) She was curious sort of girl. 7) The plane was flying at the height of 3.000 feet above sea level. 8) On the table the bottle of port was ready for him. 9) The third man entered the room. 10) I have wonderful clock, which is one hundred years old. 2.3. Insert a/an, one if necessary. 1) One of my friends advised me to take..... taxi; another said that there was quite ….. good service. 2) ….. friend of mine lent me ….. book by Meredith. I've only ….. more chapter to read. Would you like ….. loan of it afterwards? – No, thanks. I read ….. of his books ….. few years ago and didn't like it. Besides I have ….. library book to finish. If I don't take it back tomorrow I'll have to pay ….. fine. 3) ….. man I met on the train told me ….. rather unusual story. 4) Most people like ….. rest after hard day's work, but Tom seemed to have ….. inexhaustible supply of energy. 5) I've told you ….. hundred times not to come into ….. room with ….. hat on. 6) It's unlucky to light three cigarettes with ….. match. – That's only ….. superstition. Only ….. idiot believes in superstitions. 7) He says ….. caravan is no good, he needs ….. cottage. 8) ….. plate is no good, we need ….. dozen.
What are these things? An ant? – It is an insect.
Who are/were these people? Beethoven? – He was a composer.
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names of days, months, seasons and holidays: She'll come on Wednesday. I'm going on business in spring. June is the loveliest summer month. Easter is my favourite holiday. Butin the expressions in (the) summer/ autumn/ winter/ spring the can be used.
There are many instances in everyday life when both articles are deliberately omitted to save space, time and money. This is usually done in newspaper headlines, small advertisements, instructions, shopping lists, labels, some dictionary definitions and notices: Bomb Explosion Accident ( newspaper headline); " Compact residence in select suburb; 3 bed. (bedrooms), 2 recept. (reception rooms), kitchen and bathroom, garage space, nice garden" ( advertisement ); Cut along dotted line ( instruction ).