The rules for Articles and Demonstrative Determiners and the Zero Article

The rules for Articles and Demonstrative Determiners and the Zero Article

By Kerry A. Philpott

A, an common, singular, not specific

The most common, singular and plural, more specific

Geographical Names:

Mountains (in plural form) – the Rockies, the Alps, the Himalayas, …etc.
Country or place names that use plural form – the Netherlands, the Philippines
Rivers - the Mississippi, the Danube
Seas and oceans – the Atlantic, the Pacific
Groups of islands – the Canaries, the Shetlands
Coastlines – the Gulf of Mexico
Canals – the Panama Canal

Ships – the R.M.S. Titanic, the U.S.S. Constitution

Hotels – the Carlton, the Hyatt

Theaters – the Piccadilly, the Globe

Museums, libraries, hospitals – the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Mayo Clinic

Newspapers and Magazines – the Washington Post, the Economist

That, Those – not common, singular, more specific, often point when using

This, These – not common, singular, most specific, often touched when using

Zero Article – when we use no article:

Generic – when we refer to a class of nouns, but not a specific, particular example:

Cars are a fast means of transportation

Plural Count Nouns and Noncount Nouns – can use zero article (at other times they can use the):

Water is necessary for life.

Have you ever tasted apples?
Special Roles sometimes do not require an article:
As president of this union, I see no other way.

Travel and Communication:
Travel by (zero article) bicycle/ bus/ car/ …etc.
Communicate by radio, telephone, post, mail, …etc.

Times of day and night, seasons – at dawn, at sunrise, at sunset, winter is coming (all of the seasons).

But if you refer to a particular season, the article is included: The winter last year was cold.

Institutions of human life and society:
Be in town, go to bed/ hospital/ prison/ class

Meals: Did you have dinner?

Names with no articles:

Festivals, religious periods Christmas Day

Months and days of the week: On Monday, On Sunday

Continents: America, Europe, Asia

Cities, towns: London, San Francisco

Lakes: Lake Michigan

Mountains: Mount Everest