Marion lives in Ø Paris. Marion lives in Ø Paris.
We don't always need to use a, an or the before a noun. We sometimes call this zero article or you may see it as Ø.
=====Uses=====
| Rules for zero article | Examples | Exceptions |
|
All continents and most countries |
Ø Japan is in Ø Asia and has more than 6,000 islands.
The north coast of Ø France faces the south coast of Ø England.
|
With republic, kingdom, etc. or plurals:
the Czech Republic the United Kingdom the Netherlands
|
|
Islands |
Ø Ibiza, Ø Corsica and Ø Sicily are all islands in the Mediterranean.
|
With the word isle(s) or plurals: the Isle of Wight the Channel Islands |
|
Cities and towns |
Ø Birmingham is in England.
|
the Hague
|
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Mountains & lakes |
Ø Lake Gwynant is 3km from Ø Mount Snowdon in North Wales.
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When we don't include 'Mount': the Matterhorn the Jungfrau
Groups of lakes: the Great Lakes
|
|
Names of streets |
Ø Oxford Street in London has 548 shops.
|
the High Street [Street signs usually show High Street but we always say the High Street.]
|
|
Names of shops |
Ø Sainsbury's is England's oldest supermarket and Ø Tesco is the biggest.
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For a particular shop: The Sainsbury's in the High Street is open on Sundays.
|
|
Languages
|
Swiss people speak Ø German, Ø French, Ø Italian or Ø Romansh.
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We can say: The English language is spoken by about 900 million people.
|
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Places such as school, prison, hospital, church etc. when we think of them generally, not as specific buildings
|
Christians go to Ø church on Sundays.
My son's going to Ø university.
I'm at Ø work now.
He takes his children to Ø school every morning.
She's in Ø hospital. [staying as a patient]
|
the synagogue, the temple, the mosque, etc.
Compare: She works in a hospital. [It doesn't matter which one.]
I will go to the hospital tomorrow. [as a visitor - and we know which one.]
|
|
Names of stations, airports, etc.
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You can get a train to Ø Gatwick Airport from Ø Victoria Station.
|
|
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Sport and education
|
I like playing Ø golf.
She's studying Ø archaeology at Manchester University.
|
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Generalisations
|
I love Ø coffee but I don't like Ø tea.
He reads Ø magazines about Ø cars and Ø motorbikes.
Ø Happiness is more important than Ø money.
|
Compare:
I need a coffee but the coffee at work is horrible!
She loves Ø music but she doesn't like the music her son listens to. |
|
Meals
|
In Spain, they have Ø lunch and Ø dinner much later than in England.
|
Compare:
We have a nice lunch every Sunday with my family.
|
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Other expressions |
I go to Ø bed at 11.00.
I go to work by Ø bus or Ø train but never on Ø foot.
They're on Ø holiday.
|
Compare:
The dog's in the bed again! [talking about a specific bed]
|
| |
|
|
My daughter is at Ø university [= she's a student] but she's on Ø holiday at the moment with a friend.
My husband works as a lecturer at the university. [We know which one]
I love listening to Ø music...
but I don't like going to Ø concerts; the music is too loud.
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