Cases Where Articles Are Omitted

We do not normally use articles with plural or uncountable nouns when we are talking about people or things in general.

• I don’t drink coffee. (NOT I don’t drink the coffee.)
• She loves cats. (We do not use an article here because we are talking about cats in general.)

Articles are not used with the names of places or countries. There are some exceptions to this rule. If the name of the country specifically states that it is union of states, we use the article the with it.

Worksheet

Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles. In some cases, no article is required.

1. I am visiting …………………. France next week.
2. Her brother works in ……………… UK.
3. He practices as …………………. barrister in ………………. Britain.
4. I usually have …………………. dinner at 8pm.
5. She loves reading ………………… comics.
6. Is there ……………….. water on Mars?
7. …………….. India is …………….. old country.
8. He is learning …………………. French.
9. Do you speak …………….. Hindi.
10. Do not skip ………………. breakfast.
11. I have invited …………….. Rahul to my party.
12. Have you had ………………….. lunch?
13. ………………. technology has revolutionised our lives.
14. ……………. wheat is the staple food of ………….. North Indians.
15. I don’t like ………………. milk in my tea.
16. He is looking for ………………. work.
17. He was born in ……………. 2005.
18. Let’s meet on ……………. Monday.
19. She died on ……….. Monday after ………… accident.
20. It is hot in …………… summer.

Answers

1. No article is used with the names of countries.
2. the (The article the is used with the names of countries like USA, UK and UAE.)
3. a, No article (A singular countable noun always takes an article with it.)
4. No article
5. No article
6. No article
7. No article, an
8. No article (No article is used with the names of languages.)
9. No article
10. No article
11. No article
12. No article
13. No article (We are talking about technology in general.)
14. No articles
15. No article
16. No article (Work is an uncountable noun; we do not normally use articles with uncountable nouns.)
17. No article
18. No article
19. the, the (We are talking about a particular Monday here; hence, we use the with it.)
20. No article (We are talking about summer in general.)

See also

Omission of articles