When to Use No Article in English with 7 Useful Rules

Last updated on November 21, 2024 by Grammargeek

Understanding when to use no article in English is essential for mastering grammar. This reference covers key rules and provides example sentences to illustrate proper usage. You will learn exactly when it is appropriate to use no article in your sentences.

When to Use No Article

When to Use No Article
When to Use No Article – Created by 7ESL

1. We usually use no article to talk about things in general.

Examples:

  • Milk is good for you.
  • Men are always fond of soccer.

2. We do not use an article when talking about sports and games.

Examples:

  • Let’s go and play basketball.
  • Badminton is an indoor game.
  • He loves to play table tennis.

3. Do not use article before the names of countries unless the name suggests that the country is made up of smaller units or constituent parts.

Examples:

  • Japan
  • France
  • Italy
  • Bolivia
  • England

Exceptions:

  • Use the – the UK (United Kingdom), the USA (United States of America), the Irish Republic… (Kingdom, state, republic and union are nouns, so they need an article.)

4. Do not use article before the name of language.

Examples:

  • We are learning English.

5. Do not use article before the names of railway stations when they are also place names.

6. Do not use article before the names of meals if they refer to the meals generally, as a part of the daily routine.

Examples:

  • They invited some friends to dinner.
  • We had beef steak for dinner.

But the must be used when the meal is a particular one, thought of as a social function.

Examples:

  • The wedding breakfast was held in a beautiful garden.

7. Do not use article before noun + number.

Examples:

  • You’ll be leaving from Gate 5 on the eastern concourse.
  • The laboratory is in room 6 on the third floor.

When to Use No Article | Exercises

Exercise 1: General Sentences

  1. I love listening to ___ music.
  2. ___ Dogs are known as loyal animals.
  3. She is studying ___ French at university.
  4. They traveled by ___ train to reach the city.
  5. I enjoy playing ___ basketball on weekends.

Exercise 2: Proper Nouns

  1. ___ Paris is a beautiful city.
  2. My favorite author is from ___ United Kingdom.
  3. We plan to visit ___ Mount Everest next year.
  4. ___ Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms.
  5. Did you know that ___ Amazon River is the longest in South America?

Exercise 3: Abstract Nouns

  1. ___ Happiness is the key to a good life.
  2. He fought for ___ freedom and equality.
  3. ___ Honesty should always be valued.
  4. She was filled with ___ love for her family.
  5. ___ Education opens doors to opportunities.

Exercise 4: Daily Activities

  1. We usually have ___ lunch at 1 PM.
  2. He left for ___ work early this morning.
  3. She went to ___ bed late last night.
  4. They play ___ soccer every Saturday.
  5. I’ll meet you after ___ dinner.

Answers

  1. (No article)
  2. (No article)
  3. (No article)
  4. (No article)
  5. (No article)
  6. (No article)
  7. The
  8. (No article)
  9. (No article)
  10. The
  11. (No article)
  12. (No article)
  13. (No article)
  14. (No article)
  15. (No article)
  16. (No article)
  17. (No article)
  18. (No article)
  19. (No article)
  20. (No article)

Related terms:

Articles in English

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