Hello Friends. As we know that every competition exam has spotting error section. Many questions relate with the use of 'The' - Definite article. It is very confusing to decide where should we use 'The' article and where should we not. I am providing some rules here which will help you to decide where we should not use 'The' article. I hope you guys will find it useful.
Zero Article Position
You should learn the following points carefully to avoid the wrong use of articles. Article is omitted in following cases
1. Before a proper noun
Example: Akbar was a great king.
When an 'Article' is used before a proper noun, it becomes a common noun.
Examples:
(a) Mumbai is the Manchester of India
(b) This man is a second Sachin.
2. Before a common noun, used in its widest sense.
Examples:
(a) Man is mortal.
(b) What kind of bird it is?
3. Before Plural Nouns referring a class in a general sense.
Examples
(a) Bankers are generally honest.
(b) Lawyers are generally intelligent.
4. Before Abstract Nouns that express qualities, state, feeling, actions.
Example:
(a) Honesty is the best policy.
(b) Virtue is its own reward.
when abstract nouns, instead of referring qualities, express person or things possessing such qualities or express qualities of definite objects. They are preceded by article.
5. Before Material Nouns
Example:
(a) Iron is a hard metal.
(b) Silver is a semi-precious metal.
When material nouns express things instead of matter of which they are made they are representing 'common noun', so they can be preceded by the article.
6. Before names of diseases like Fever, Cholera, Consumption etc.
(But if the names of diseases are plural in their form, the article is generally used as, the measles, the mumps.)
7. Before name of regular meals. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Example: He was invited to dinner.
(But if the meal becomes particular article is used)
The dinner hosted by the queen was superb.
8. Before name of things single in kind (Hell, Heaven, God, Parliament, Paradise etc)
but 'The Pope', 'The Devil' are exceptions.
Examples:
(a) He was condemned to hell.
(b) The Pope delivered a religious speech.
9. Before name of 'Languages' or 'Colours'
Example:
(a) I do not know 'Hindi' but know 'English'.
(b) I like red and blue colours.
10. Before certain titles and names indicating the relationship. (Emperor Ashoka, President Bush, Dewan Bahadur etc.)
Examples:
(a) Prince Charles is Queen Elizabeth's son.
(b) President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
(c) He is Duke of York.
11. Before a noun following the expression 'kind of'
Examples:
(a) What kind of girl is she?
(b) What kind of boy is he?
12. In certain phrases.
To take breath, to set sail, to leave school, to lay seige, to catch fire, at home, in hand, at school, by water, at Sunset, on Earth, by land, by train, by car, on demand, in debt, in jest etc.
13. Before nouns, which are plural in their meanings, though singular in form i.e.
cattle, gentry, furniture, scenery, advice, information.
14. Before names of public institution (Church, School, University, prison, Hospital, Court etc.) if they are used for the purpose they exist rather than actual building.
Example: He went to Church.
Note: He went to the church and from there he took a bus. In this example he went to a place where building of the church is situated.
15. When two or more descriptive adjectives qualify the same noun and adjectives are connected by 'and' the article is used before the first adjective only.
Example: This is a Hindi and English Dictionary. (Here dictionary is one.)
16. If two nouns refer to the same person or thing, the article is used before the first noun only, but if they refer to different persons or things, the article must be used with each one.
Example:
(a) He is a better soldier than statesman.
(b) He was a great soldier than statesman.
17. Article is omitted after the possessive case.
Example: His brother's car, Ramesh's house.
18. Article is omitted with professions.
Example:
(a) Engineering is a useful career.
(b) He will probably go into medicine.
19. Article is omitted with years.
Examples:
(a) 1947 was a wonderful year.
(b) Do you remember 2011?
20. No article is used before name of games, sports.
Examples:
(a) I am playing cricket.
(b) He is fond of playing tennis.
21. No article is used before a noun when it is modified by either a possessive adjective or a demonstrative adjective.
Examples:
(a) Do you like my shirt? (Possessive adjective 'my')
(b) I like this pen. (Demonstrative adjective 'this')
22. No article is used before a noun when it is preceded by a distributive adjective.
Example:
(a) Every student got a prize. (Distributive adjective 'every')
(b) Each student was presented in the hall. (Distributive adjective 'each')
23. No article is used before number+noun.
Examples:
(a) The train arrives at platform 7.
(b) I want shoes in size 10.
24. Work (= place of work) is used without definite article 'the'.
Examples:
(a) He is on his way to work.
(b) She is at work.
(c) They have't back from work yet.
Note: Office (= place of work) needs 'the' for example He is at/in the office.
To be in office(without the) means to hold an official (usually political) position.
25. Definite article 'the' is omitted when speaking of the subject's or speaker's own town.
Example:
(a) We go to town sometimes to meet our mother.
(b) We went to town last year and remained there for a week.
26. 'Nature' when means environment, do not use article before it.
Example: If you interfere with nature you will suffer for it.
27. No article is used before name of 'Season'
Examples:
(a) In Spring we like to clean the house.
(b) She is planning to visit her parents in winter.
28. Definite article 'the' is not used before 'time of day'.
Examples:
(a) We traveled mostly by night.
(b) We will be there around midnight.
29. Names without 'the'
Names of any places, especially names of important buildings and institutions consist of two words. First word is usually the name of a person or a place, we do not use 'the' before such names usually.
Example: Delhi Airport, Victoria Station, London Zoo, Jaisingh Palace, Indira Gandhi Airport etc.
30. Usually no article is used with the name of Airlines, Companies.
British Airways, Sony, IBM, KODAK, Indian Airlines etc.
According to my knowledge and resources these are the rule which describes where we should not use article. If you have any suggestion you are welcome. Please share your knowledge and contribute to make this list useful.
Enjoy friends. Cheers!!!!!!
जय श्री राम
You should also visit Where to use 'The' - Definite article
Zero Article Position
You should learn the following points carefully to avoid the wrong use of articles. Article is omitted in following cases
1. Before a proper noun
Example: Akbar was a great king.
When an 'Article' is used before a proper noun, it becomes a common noun.
Examples:
(a) Mumbai is the Manchester of India
(b) This man is a second Sachin.
2. Before a common noun, used in its widest sense.
Examples:
(a) Man is mortal.
(b) What kind of bird it is?
3. Before Plural Nouns referring a class in a general sense.
Examples
(a) Bankers are generally honest.
(b) Lawyers are generally intelligent.
4. Before Abstract Nouns that express qualities, state, feeling, actions.
Example:
(a) Honesty is the best policy.
(b) Virtue is its own reward.
when abstract nouns, instead of referring qualities, express person or things possessing such qualities or express qualities of definite objects. They are preceded by article.
5. Before Material Nouns
Example:
(a) Iron is a hard metal.
(b) Silver is a semi-precious metal.
When material nouns express things instead of matter of which they are made they are representing 'common noun', so they can be preceded by the article.
6. Before names of diseases like Fever, Cholera, Consumption etc.
(But if the names of diseases are plural in their form, the article is generally used as, the measles, the mumps.)
7. Before name of regular meals. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Example: He was invited to dinner.
(But if the meal becomes particular article is used)
The dinner hosted by the queen was superb.
8. Before name of things single in kind (Hell, Heaven, God, Parliament, Paradise etc)
but 'The Pope', 'The Devil' are exceptions.
Examples:
(a) He was condemned to hell.
(b) The Pope delivered a religious speech.
9. Before name of 'Languages' or 'Colours'
Example:
(a) I do not know 'Hindi' but know 'English'.
(b) I like red and blue colours.
10. Before certain titles and names indicating the relationship. (Emperor Ashoka, President Bush, Dewan Bahadur etc.)
Examples:
(a) Prince Charles is Queen Elizabeth's son.
(b) President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
(c) He is Duke of York.
11. Before a noun following the expression 'kind of'
Examples:
(a) What kind of girl is she?
(b) What kind of boy is he?
12. In certain phrases.
To take breath, to set sail, to leave school, to lay seige, to catch fire, at home, in hand, at school, by water, at Sunset, on Earth, by land, by train, by car, on demand, in debt, in jest etc.
13. Before nouns, which are plural in their meanings, though singular in form i.e.
cattle, gentry, furniture, scenery, advice, information.
14. Before names of public institution (Church, School, University, prison, Hospital, Court etc.) if they are used for the purpose they exist rather than actual building.
Example: He went to Church.
Note: He went to the church and from there he took a bus. In this example he went to a place where building of the church is situated.
15. When two or more descriptive adjectives qualify the same noun and adjectives are connected by 'and' the article is used before the first adjective only.
Example: This is a Hindi and English Dictionary. (Here dictionary is one.)
16. If two nouns refer to the same person or thing, the article is used before the first noun only, but if they refer to different persons or things, the article must be used with each one.
Example:
(a) He is a better soldier than statesman.
(b) He was a great soldier than statesman.
17. Article is omitted after the possessive case.
Example: His brother's car, Ramesh's house.
18. Article is omitted with professions.
Example:
(a) Engineering is a useful career.
(b) He will probably go into medicine.
19. Article is omitted with years.
Examples:
(a) 1947 was a wonderful year.
(b) Do you remember 2011?
20. No article is used before name of games, sports.
Examples:
(a) I am playing cricket.
(b) He is fond of playing tennis.
21. No article is used before a noun when it is modified by either a possessive adjective or a demonstrative adjective.
Examples:
(a) Do you like my shirt? (Possessive adjective 'my')
(b) I like this pen. (Demonstrative adjective 'this')
22. No article is used before a noun when it is preceded by a distributive adjective.
Example:
(a) Every student got a prize. (Distributive adjective 'every')
(b) Each student was presented in the hall. (Distributive adjective 'each')
23. No article is used before number+noun.
Examples:
(a) The train arrives at platform 7.
(b) I want shoes in size 10.
24. Work (= place of work) is used without definite article 'the'.
Examples:
(a) He is on his way to work.
(b) She is at work.
(c) They have't back from work yet.
Note: Office (= place of work) needs 'the' for example He is at/in the office.
To be in office(without the) means to hold an official (usually political) position.
25. Definite article 'the' is omitted when speaking of the subject's or speaker's own town.
Example:
(a) We go to town sometimes to meet our mother.
(b) We went to town last year and remained there for a week.
26. 'Nature' when means environment, do not use article before it.
Example: If you interfere with nature you will suffer for it.
27. No article is used before name of 'Season'
Examples:
(a) In Spring we like to clean the house.
(b) She is planning to visit her parents in winter.
28. Definite article 'the' is not used before 'time of day'.
Examples:
(a) We traveled mostly by night.
(b) We will be there around midnight.
29. Names without 'the'
Names of any places, especially names of important buildings and institutions consist of two words. First word is usually the name of a person or a place, we do not use 'the' before such names usually.
Example: Delhi Airport, Victoria Station, London Zoo, Jaisingh Palace, Indira Gandhi Airport etc.
30. Usually no article is used with the name of Airlines, Companies.
British Airways, Sony, IBM, KODAK, Indian Airlines etc.
According to my knowledge and resources these are the rule which describes where we should not use article. If you have any suggestion you are welcome. Please share your knowledge and contribute to make this list useful.
Enjoy friends. Cheers!!!!!!
जय श्री राम
You should also visit Where to use 'The' - Definite article
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