Questions tagged [zero-article]
For questions about noun phrases that contain no articles, definite or indefinite.
338
questions
0
votes
0answers
10 views
Definite article when introducing a list of items
Should I use the definite article when introducing a list of items, tasks, and so on?
Completed tasks:
Buy that cool t-shirt
Call Jane about Mike
Fix the car
Is it correct to use "Completed ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
What does the use of the definite article give to these sentences?
I like winter because (the) snow lies on (the) trees, on (the) houses,
and on (the) roads.
I like winter because there is snow on (the) trees, on (the) houses,
and on (the) roads.
I've made up these ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
Where to use the term "the"? [closed]
I am reading a book in which the words "east" and "west" are sometimes used with "the", like " the east and the west", while other times it is used without the ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Using the definite article before the first noun in the phrase [noun] + of + [noun]
I asked this question stating whether we should use the definite article before the noun "manipulation" in the phrase "manipulation of formal symbols" or not, and I was told that ...
-1
votes
1answer
53 views
Should the definite article before the word "manipulation" not be omitted?
I have seen the following sentence:
He claims that thinking is merely the manipulation of formal symbols.
However, in my opinion, the definite article before the word "manipulation should be ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
Definite article 'the' with the word 'painting' when speaking about crafts
I'm writing an article about Russian traditional handicrafts, such as Khokhloma, Zhostovo, and Gzhel. I know the names of these styles/techniques do not require any determiner before them when I use ...
0
votes
2answers
17 views
"the percentage of the changes" vs. "the percentage of changes" and use of an article "the"?
I write the following two statements from the graph.
Statements
The given line graphs illustrate the percentage of the change in usage of the three electrical appliances.
The given line graphs ...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
The + system/machine
From Wikipedia:
The internal combustion engine is perhaps the most common example of a heat engine, in which...
The internal combustion engine = all (general) internal combustion engines. Systems/...
2
votes
1answer
38 views
'at very high altitude', 'at very high altitudes': both are okay in this sentence?
I'd like to know and ask whether both the sentences below are correct.
At very high altitude you will have difficulty breathing.
At very high altitudes you will have difficulty breathing.
My ...
0
votes
0answers
9 views
"xxx is true, physicists say": is it ambiguous about it means "some" or "generally"?
"xxx is true, physicists say" is a frequent pattern in headlines ( of articles that are often "not very accurate", especially when it is about sciences, especially on facebook ).
...
0
votes
2answers
52 views
Why have I to use zero article in a question? [closed]
Why do we not use article before noun fruit in this question?
Do you like fruit?
0
votes
1answer
26 views
The phrase "in relationship" with zero article
Context: "God wanted to be in relationship with His people."
Is it okay not to use an article before "relationship?"
2
votes
1answer
45 views
No article for noun + number?
I'd like to understand if there should always be no article before nouns followed by a number, like in the following examples:
The train arrives at platform 5.
The flight departs from gate 7.
In my ...
-1
votes
1answer
46 views
One of my favourite flowers is tulips/a tulip/the tulip/tulip
Which one is correct?
One of my favourite flowers is tulips/a tulip/the tulip/tulip
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Why is there no article before "use" in "indefinitely suspended use of the vaccine"?
This is a sentence from Wikipedia, from article on Astra-Zeneca vaccine:
On 14 April, the Danish Health Authority indefinitely suspended use of
the vaccine.
Why not "the use" is used here?
2
votes
1answer
38 views
bare plurals vs the+ plural nouns
The usage of "the" is really difficult. When it combines with the usage of plural nouns, it is hard to tell whether "the" should be used in front of the plural noun. I searched ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
What article should I use before the noun "handstand"?
What article(s) should I use before the noun "handstand"?
I read several example sentences with this word and found different options to choose from. I would like to know if they are all ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
... others suggest that lively colors are (the) best because they make people happier [duplicate]
Do we need the 'the' in this sentence?
While some have argued that pastels are better because they calm
people down, others suggest that lively colors are (the) best because
they make people happier.
...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Why don't we use the definite article in "you have the experience of..."?
Consider these examples:
Do you have the experience of working with kids?
Do you have experience of working with kids?
From what I have learned, we can use "the" with uncountable nouns ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
school or the school?
Is the definite article necessary in both the following sentences?
a. I forgot to bring the book to the school today.
b. His home is only two blocks away from the school.
3
votes
2answers
143 views
What articles and when do I use with the phrase "past tense"?
Let's take a couple of quotes from the Wikipedia article:
The past tense is a grammatical tense whose function is to place an action or situation in past time.
In some languages, the grammatical ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Should I place an article before "20/20 vision"?
Having (a) 20/20 vision is the desirable condition of the eye.
If you have (a) 20/20 vision you don't need glasses.
(A) 20/20 vision is required for certain job positions.
Is the article "a"...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Use of articles in certain situations
I read that with certain places, "the" or the zero article can be used, but all depend on context. For example:
I'm in hospital. (mainly indicates that you had a health problem, so
you're ...
1
vote
1answer
202 views
Why is the definite article "the" used before some dances and with others not? [duplicate]
I crossed with two sentences:
Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the
1880s along to the Río de la Plata.
How to dance the Tango.
So, I got very confused because the ...
1
vote
2answers
60 views
Why isn't there an article before "conflict"?
Why isn't there an article before conflict in the following sentence?
Difference in the pronouncement leads to conflict.
2
votes
1answer
52 views
"I am a boy." vs. "I am boy." How native speakers feel if there is no article like "a" or "an"?
"I am a boy." vs. "I am boy." How natives speakers feel if there is no article like "a" or "an"?
Could anybody describe what kind of syntax or feeling you have ...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
Why don't these countable nouns have articles in this sentence?
Why exactly don't "header" and "body" need articles in the following sentence (as per this answer)?
We've improved the visual separation between header and body in classes with ...
2
votes
1answer
23 views
Why zero article is used here
I came upon this sentence in a book I was reading ("Why Aren't They Shouting?" by Kevin Rogers):
(...) it is always pored over by banks and their regulators for months after publication.
...
1
vote
2answers
33 views
What is the difference between using 'as president' and 'as a president'?
Someone asked why we can't use as the president/as a president in this sentence.
When teachers were upset about the stringent accountability measures
Barack Obama imposed on them as president.
And ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
Is there any difference in meaning with the use of the definite article?
According to
http://amj.amegroups.com/article/view/4743/html
In the sentence,
"This study was designed to imagine the impact of the antioxidant metallothoinein (MT) on 'the' lipopolyssacharide (...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Definite article vs zero article
I have problems with definite and zero articles in the following sentences:
"I met a man you were talking about over THE telephone yesterday."
"The wounded were examined by THE doctor ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
No Article Problem: A Person’s Title? [duplicate]
I wonder how to explain this regular zero article in such constructions:
Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrentheit 451.
Karl Marx, creator of Marxism.
I can see that the second example may be explained as ...
0
votes
1answer
646 views
"Snow" or "the snow"?
Should I use the definite article in front of the word snow here?
I remember snow in late October many years ago
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
3
votes
2answers
448 views
Are both “enjoying ᴛʜᴇ sun” and “enjoying sun” completely acceptable and fully equivalent?
I know that enjoying the sun is appropriate in this sentence:
We passed by the harbor where some kids were taking a dip and other people were enjoying the sun.
But I have noticed that just plain sun ...
0
votes
0answers
56 views
Is the definite article necessary before "treatment" in these sentences?
Can I use the definite article before the word "treatment" in a generic sense? If not, what's the difference in the meaning of these sentences?
Several therapeutic agents have been ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
that will be (the) result of
If you don't define a default or parameter-less Constructor for your class the C# compiler creates one for it. You're not going to see it, but it will be in the IL or Intermediate Language code that ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Why is no article used in this sentence?
I read the following sentence on Twitter:
Today, a dream comes true. Koeman was part of the Dream Team Cruyff built. After the recent history of great managers, Koeman is here to continue that.
Why ...
1
vote
0answers
30 views
Article before "possible WHO pre-qualification of the vaccine"
I am having a bit of hard time pondering over why there is not an article before "Possible who pre-qualification of the vaccine" in the following sentence:
We are in close contact with ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
"How was class?" vs. "How was the class?"
I've noticed that English native speakers sometimes omit the definite article before the word class when they ask how it was, even though it's clear what class they are talking about. So, let's say a ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
Do you use a definite article or zero article followed by a prepositional phrase
In the following two (similar) sentences the definite article is used in one, but not the other.
1 Capital letters are used for the names of people,places and languages.
2.Capital letters are used for ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
Why zero article? (plural noun)
Here's a quote from a book:
In multithreaded programs there is often a division of labor between [zero article] threads. In one common pattern, some threads are producers and some are consumers.
In ...
2
votes
2answers
302 views
"All the water" VS "All water"
I am a bit confused as to the difference - some use the definite article, some do not:
-All water on Earth will evaporate in a billion years.
-Not all water is composed of the same substances.
-All ...
8
votes
4answers
541 views
My brother has turned writer VS. My brother has turned a writer
I encountered a quiz:
My brother has turned _____ writer. I am proud of him.
A. a
B. the
C. /
D. an
The answer key is C. As I understand, zero article might be ok here because writer is an ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
"for _ dinner" vs "for A walk"
Why do we say "to invite someone for _ dinner" without any article whereas in "to go for a walk" we use one?
Is there any general rule covering the cases or should they just be ...
1
vote
2answers
175 views
"at + noun" without article between
Consider these
that's what I learned at school
that's the major I learned at University
she works at home
How many people are working at Microsoft
In those examples "at school", "at ...
0
votes
3answers
57 views
'My source has video of the crash site' and why not 'my source has a video of the crash site'? Why the article ‘a’ cannot be used?
My source has video of the crash site. and why not my source has a video of the crash site?
Why the article a cannot be used?
Also there are other sentences like we had a video made of our wedding. ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
patients with diabetes OR the patients with diabetes
To my knowledge, if we indicate diabetic patients as a whole, 'patients with diabetes' is grammatically correct rather than 'THE patients with diabetes'. I don't understand why because we have to put ...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
Democratic values. Does it require the definite article?
I've read in Practical English Grammar that you don't usually put the definite article in front of so-called "half-general expressions". Is "Democratic values" in that category? Or does it require the ...
2
votes
1answer
135 views
How to correctly name photographs? (confusion with articles)
What to do in these examples?:
"Pines in (the/zero article) fog"?
https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/foggy-pines-paula-apro.jpg
"(An/0) eagle (in the/at) dusk"?
...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
zero article in 'at time of crisis' and 'led to disaster'
A paragraph in a Reuters article:
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter that “human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster,” citing an initial ...
