Zero article: when not to use the article “the” in English

Uncountable and abstract nouns when spoken in general.

Love is the most important value in life.
Love is the most important value in life.

Uncountable and abstract nouns when referring to one in particular.

The love I feel for her is unconditional.
The love I feel for her is unconditional.

Plural countable nouns when spoken in general.

Doctors help people who are sick.
Doctors help sick people.

Plural countable nouns when referring to a particular group.

The doctors in this hospital are very good.
The doctors at this hospital are very good.

Most country names.

France, Argentina, Japan.

Names of countries that contain the words: Republic, States, Kingdom, or your name is plural.

the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands.

Names of mountains, lakes.

Mount Everest, Lake Superior.

Names of rivers, oceans, seas, mountain ranges, deserts and other geographical features.

the amazon, the Pacific Ocean, the blacksea, the Alps, the Sahara Desert.

Names of islands in singular.

Sicily, Corsica.

Names of islands in plural.

the Bahamas, the British Isles.

Proper names, whether or not preceded by a title (doctor uncle).

Steve, Microsoft, Doctor Williams.

Surnames, when used in the plural to refer to a family group.

the Smiths, the Johnsons.

Names of places preceded by a proper name.

Buckingham Palace, Penn Station, St Paul's Cathedral.

Names of places when they are not preceded by a proper name; names of hotels, theaters, newspapers and combinations with the preposition of.

the White House, the royal palace, the hilton hotel, the Museum of Modern Art.

The cardinal points when they function as adjectives, before a name.

North American, Southern France.

The cardinal points when they go alone or represent a region.

the north, the Far East.

Author: Marilina Gary

English teachers for secondary and higher education (Juan XXIII Higher Institute, Bahía Blanca, Argentina).

Publication date: September 30, 2023

Last edition: September 30, 2023