English Grammar and Exercises / No article (Zero article)

No article
​(Zero article)

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When a noun is not preceded by a definite article (the) or indefinite article (a, an), we use zero article. 

THE USE OF NO ARTICLE
1) We use no article with proper names
EXAMPLES
  • Sarah is my cousin.
  • Where’s Grandpa Michael?
2) We use no article with uncountable nouns when we are referring in general
EXAMPLES
  • Water is an important resource.
  • Fiber is important for the health of the digestive system.
  • I love democracy.
  • I like listening to music.
  • She’s a vegetarian. She doesn’t eat meat.
3) We use no article with plural countable nouns when we are referring in general
EXAMPLES
  • ​Dogs are commonly referred to as “man's best friend”.
  • Rich people think and behave differently.
4) We use no article with the names of language
EXAMPLES
  • Chinese is not more difficult than other languages.
  • I’d like to speak French.
5) We use no article with the names of meals
EXAMPLES
  • What would you like for breakfast?
  • Lunch is ready!
  • I felt sleepy after dinner.
6) We use no article with the names of games or sport
EXAMPLE
  • Baseball is the king of sports in the Dominican Republic.
7) We use no article with the names of days, months, seasons, holidays and parts of the day
EXAMPLES
  • See you on Monday.
  • Many Americans celebrate Halloween on October 31.
  • I love summer.
  • On St. Patrick’s Day everybody wears green.
  • Are you coming over for Christmas?
  • Mother’s Day celebration in Mexico takes place on May 10.
  • The stars shine at night.
  • The sun had set, and dusk settled over the ocean.
There are some exceptions with the parts of the day: in the morning / afternoon / evening.
8) We use no article with the names of continents, countries, cities, towns, streets, single lakes and single mountains
EXAMPLES
  • Asia is Earth's largest and most populous continent.
  • I live in Brazil.
  • My address is 1520 Green Street.
  • She lives near Lake Superior.
  • I've climbed Mount Everest.  
There are some exceptions: The US (The United States), The UK (The United Kingdom), The Philippines, The Netherlands, The Czech Republic,  etc.
9) We use no article with routine places
 EXAMPLES
  • I’m going to bed.
  • They went to school yesterday.
  • I'm at home right now.
  • I go to work every day by train.
10) We use no article with means of transport (in expression with by)
EXAMPLE
  • She usually goes to work by bus.
11) We use no article in exclamations with what + uncountable noun
EXAMPLE
  • What beautiful weather!
12) We use no article with academic subjects
EXAMPLES
  • He studied Law at university.
  • I like English.
13) We use no article with names of companies
EXAMPLES
  • Bill Gates founded Microsoft.
  • Facebook is a popular free social networking website.
14) We use no article with names of universities
EXAMPLE
  • Claire goes to Harvard.
15) We use no article with noun + number
EXAMPLE
  • Charles is staying at the Plaza hotel in room 511.
16) We use no article with year
EXAMPLE
  • 1998 was the best year in film history.
Here's a list of no article (zero article) Exercises:
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