English Language Learners Stack Exchange
English Language Learners Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [zero-article]

For questions about noun phrases that contain no articles, definite or indefinite.

388 questions
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Is the rule of when to add the articles: (a, the, no article) before a noun, too flexible in English?

This is from William Gibson's Neuromancer: The impact with pavement drove dull rods of pain through his shins. Why is there no article before pavement?
Nadirspam
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Zero article before "advice", "fish and chips", "lunch"

Please explain next example: My neighbour is a photographer; let's ask him for (!) advice about colour films. We had (!) fish and (!) chips for (!) lunch. That doesn't sound a very interesting lunch. We'd better go by (!) taxi—if we can get (a)…
Max Usanin
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it will be all ruble — article omission

Example with a context (Forget Tanks. Russia’s Ruble Is Conquering Eastern Ukraine): “The increasing use of the ruble is yet another sign Russia’s going to keep de facto sovereignty over the territory it and the separatists control,” said Cliff…
Michael Rybkin
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Zero article before countable nouns in context

I have happened upone it in last episode of Crash Course A&P. It is at 42 second. Here it goes: Now, it becomes the business of your cell-mediated response, or cellular immune response. And that is where stuff gets serious. Where (a) cell fights…
Dmytro O'Hope
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When to use "such" before a noun and when to use "such a/an"?

Should you put an “a” here in the blank after such? Alpha is supposed to warrant the connection between Beta and Gamma. But ____ connection seems to be already warranted. Which one is correct instead of ____, such or such a?
Sasan
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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 will be result of the compilation. I saw this…
preachers
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"room 7" "page 44": Why no def. article "the"?

Can anyone simply explain why the following expressions do not take the definite article “the”? I know (as a native speaker) that no article is needed; just looking for the precise grammar functioning here. Room 7 (Bob is in Room 7) Page…
curious-proofreader
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Using "the" for mentioned general terms

I am not sure if the title describes my question here, but I am not sure whether I need to use the definite article in this context: Qualitative research instruments include interviews, focus groups, reviews, and observation. [The] Interviews…
Tarik
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definite article or zero article?

"power grids" in the below refers to the power grids supplying electricity to the region from Texas to California, so I think "THE power grids" is right. Similarly, "demand" refers to the demand for electricity in the same region, so "THE demand"…
Ji Hyun Lee
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Should I use zero article when elaborating existing things using "current/existing"?

I'm working on the abstract of my paper. According to the edition of my professor, the last sentence of the abstract is like: The results also reveal some limitations of current outlier detection systems, which ... My question is: Should I add…
PromethiumL
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Why have I to use zero article in a question?

Why do we not use article before noun fruit in this question? Do you like fruit?
FAQ
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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?"
Diane Mik
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Why is there no "the" before "loss", "lack", "people", "lands" in these examples?

Why is there no definite article before loss and lack in examples 1 & 2, before people in 3 & 4, and before lands in 4? I'm suffering from loss of blood. New parents are suffering from lack of sleep. I know people who have seen ghosts. I'm so…
Baran
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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 armed forces investigation into the crash of the…
Rrr
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Zero Article Usage on Dissertation Title Page?

I'm close to finishing my Ph.D. at a state university and the required text on the dissertation title page appears incorrect to me. As specified by the university graduate college, the required text should read, "Submitted to the Faculty of the…
mitchute
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