English Definite and Zero Articles, Explanations

ENGLISH DEFINITE ARTICLE

1. Deserts: the Sahara, the Gobi
2. Capes : the Cape of Good Hope
3. Rivers: the Danube, the Nile, the Mississippi
4. Seas: the Black Sea
5. Oceans: the Atlantic Ocean
6. Countries [ few]: the USA, the  Netherlands, theRepublic of Korea, the U.K., the Republic of China [ or, simply, China, with no article ]
7. Cities [ few] : the Hague
8. Ships: the Titanic, the Queen Victoria, the Mayflower
9. Newspapers: the Guardian, the Times, the New York Times
10. Institutions, organizations: libraries, theaters, cinemas, town halls: the Town Hall, the University of Virginia, the United Nations[ the U.N.], the F.B.I
11. Groups of Islands: the Hebrides, the Philippines
12. Mountain ranges : the Alps, the Carpathians, the Andes
13. Canals : The Suez
14. Gulfs : the San Francisco Gulf
15. Hotels: the Marriott
16. Restaurants: the Lido
17. Museums: the Madame Tussauds
18. Groups of lakes : the Great Lakes
19. Plurals: the Kennedys
20. Number ranges: the Sixties
21. Zoos: the Brookfield Zoo
22. Some buildings: the Empire State Building
23. Languages [with “language”] : the Korean language
24. Titles [no name] : the President, the Sun King
25. Regions :the Midwest
26. German mountains: the Matterhorn

                                ZERO ARTICLE

 1. The generic function: this function is specific to the zero article; it goes with mass nouns:

Dogs are friendly animals

Water is heavier than oil.

Blood is thicker than water.

Love is a noble feeling.

Music is the finest of arts.

Exceptions:

Man is mortal.

Spring begins in March.

Breakfast is the first meal of the day.

  2. Before the vocatives:

         Listen, John! Good bye, Sir! Of course, boy!

    3.  Zero article can be a non – significant determiner in a variety of cases:

-        with proper nouns, names of countries, towns, continents,  people, months of the year, days of the week, languages, titles and ranks.

E.g. Europe, Romania, Africa, Rome, John, January, Monday,

-        With titles and ranks + surname or when we address a person by his / her title or rank, articles of any kind are dropped.

e.g.

Professor Johnson is away.

Dr. Cook has not been here for ten years.

Captain Brown has come recently.

Can I talk to you, Doctor?

Colonel, someone is looking for you!

     4. Zero article is used before meals:

We are having dinner at eight.

   5.  Zero article after prepositions:

--the definite article is not used before the nouns listed below:

We go to /bed / sleep / church / hospital / school / college /university

--exceptions to the rule are: cathedral, cinema, theatre, office

E.g. 

John and Mary are at the cinema.

We go to the theater every week.

6. Zero article with nouns associated with numerals:

E.g.

We say: Ex. 10, Lesson 5, Chapter 11, Volume 9, Book 1, Section 3

 7.  Zero article in set phrases:

E.g.

From time to time

At dawn / night / midday / noon / midnight

From dawn to dusk

By sea / land / train

On sale

Last night

In front of

8. Sometimes the article is omitted in stage directions, titles, telegrams, poetry.

e.g. 

Mutilated body found in Yellow Lake![newspaper title] 

Boys coming Monday night! [telegram]

   9. Zero article is used with:

People: Queen Victoria

Large lakes: Lake Ontario

Single mountains : Mt. Fuji [ exceptions to the rule: the Matterhorn, the Jungfrau ]

“Name” – number : Chapter 6, Flight 167

Individual people: Maggie, G. Bush

Continents, countries, states, cities: Australia, Canada,Illinois, Chicago

Months, days : October, Monday

Languages: Korean

Streets, Avenues: Lincoln Ave.

Small lakes: Homer Lake

Single islands: Staten Island

Colleges / Universities : Harvard [University], but : theUniversity of Harvard

Parks : Hessel Park, Hyde Park

Magazines: Life

Some buildings: Davenport Hall