Zero article (no article)

The zero article means using a noun without a, an or the. In English, we commonly use no article with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns when they are general or non-specific, as well as with many proper names and in several common expressions. Using an article where English requires no article is a common learner error.

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For a complete explanation of when articles are required, see the indefinite article and definite article guides. The table below gives a brief summary of when the indefinite, definite, and zero articles are used:

When not to use an article in English

There are several common situations in English where a noun is used without a, an or the. The following rules explain when the zero article is normally used and contrast it with cases where an article would change the meaning.

1. Don’t use an article with plural nouns that are general or non-specific

Plural countable nouns normally use no article when they refer to a whole class or category in general, or when they refer to an unspecified number of people or things that have not been made identifiable:

• ❌ The cats make good pets.
• ✅ Cats make good pets.

• ❌ She doesn’t like the people who are rude to waiters.
• ✅ She doesn’t like people who are rude to waiters.

• ❌ We need the volunteers for the event.
• ✅ We need volunteers for the event.

• ❌ The bees are important for agriculture.
• ✅ Bees are important for agriculture.

Remember that if you are talking about one singular countable noun that is general or non-specific, you should use the indefinite article a/an, for example: A cat can make a great pet or There is a bee in the kitchen.

Likewise, if you are referring to one specific noun or a specific group of nouns, then you should use the definite article the, for example: The cats next door or The people in my office.

2. Don’t use an article with uncountable nouns that are general or non-specific

Uncountable nouns normally use no article when they refer to a substance, activity, quality, concept or other uncountable idea in general. When they refer to a non-specific or unidentified amount, we can also use some in affirmative sentences and any in many questions and negative sentences:

• ❌ She gave me the advice about finding a new job.
• ✅ She gave me (some) advice about finding a new job.

• ❌ Do you have the experience working in this industry?
• ✅ Do you have (any) experience working in this industry?

• ❌ The education is important for the society.
• ✅ Education is important for society.

• ❌ The water is essential for the life.
• ✅ Water is essential for life.

If you are specifying an uncountable noun, then you should use the definite article the, for example: The milk in the fridge or The information that you sent.

3. Don’t use an article with most proper nouns

Proper nouns normally identify a particular person, place, organisation or other named thing by themselves, so most do not need an article. This includes most names of people, cities, countries, continents, companies, airports and stations, although some established names do use the. For example:

• ❌ We spent two weeks in the France.
• ✅ We spent two weeks in France.

• ❌ He works for the Microsoft.
• ✅ He works for Microsoft.

• ❌ Zidane played for the Real Madrid.
• ✅ Zidane played for Real Madrid.

• ❌ David flew from the Gatwick Airport.
• ✅ David flew from Gatwick Airport.

However, many proper names do include the, including certain countries, geographical features, places and other established names. For a detailed explanation, see the definite article guide.

4. Don’t use an article when a noun stops referring to an individual thing

A noun that can refer to an individual person or thing is often used with an article, for example a school, a train, a president or a breakfast. However, in certain situations and expressions, the same noun can stop referring to an individual person or thing and instead refer more generally to the idea, concept, function, activity, method, role or status associated with it. It may be helpful to think of the noun as acting in an uncountable way in these situations. In these uses, we do not use an article. A singular noun used without an article in this way is known as a bare singular noun.

The table below shows some common situations where this occurs and the phrases commonly associated with them:

You should therefore avoid making these mistakes:

• ❌ I played football in the school.
• ✅ I played football in school.

• ❌ We’ll arrive by a boat.
• ✅ We’ll arrive by boat.

• ❌ Where shall we have a breakfast tomorrow?
• ✅ Where shall we have breakfast tomorrow?

• ❌ He was elected a president.
• ✅ He was elected president.

However, if these nouns are used in their regular countable meaning to refer to one individual person or thing, then we use an appropriate article or other determiner:

• ✅ I’m parked outside the school.
• ✅ I just sent you an email.
• ✅ They took a train to Edinburgh for the weekend.
• ✅ The brunch they serve in the Marriott is excellent.
• ✅ We had a lovely dinner last night.
• ✅ He is the president.

5. Don’t use an article with possessives, demonstratives and certain other determiners

We do not use a/an or the before possessive or demonstrative determiners, or before certain other determiners that already identify or specify the noun. This includes possessives such as my, your and their, demonstratives such as this, that, these and those, and other determiners such as some, any, each and every:

• ❌ She showed me a her photograph.
• ✅ She showed me her photograph.

• ❌ They work in that a factory.
• ✅ They work in that factory.

• ❌ I need to wash the my car.
• ✅ I need to wash my car.

• ❌ His the biggest problem is finding enough time.
• ✅ His biggest problem is finding enough time.

The restriction above applies to determiners that already identify or specify a noun. However, some other words can be used with an article because they add extra information without replacing it. For example:

• all the people
• both the houses
• the three children
• the first person
• the other option

6. Don’t use an article with languages, school subjects, sports and games

The names of languages, academic subjects, sports and games normally use no article when referring to them generally. The name itself identifies the language, subject or activity, so no additional article is required:

• ❌ She speaks the Spanish.
• ✅ She speaks Spanish.

• ❌ I studied the history at university.
• ✅ I studied history at university.

• ❌ They play the football every Saturday.
• ✅ They play football every Saturday.

• ❌ He’s very good at the chess.
• ✅ He’s very good at chess.

7. Don’t usually use an article with days, months, years and holidays

Names of days, months, individual calendar years, and holidays or festivals normally use no article. For example:

• ❌ I have class on the Monday.
• ✅ I have class on Monday.

• ❌ She was born in the April.
• ✅ She was born in April.

• ❌ World War 2 began in the 1939.
• ✅ World War 2 began in 1939.

• ❌ What are you doing during the Christmas?
• ✅ What are you doing during Christmas?

This differs from expressions referring to decades, centuries and certain historical periods, which commonly use the: the 1990s, the 21st century, the Middle Ages.

If the specific or particular day, month or holiday can be identified from the context, we can use the:

• ✅ On the Monday after we arrived, it rained all day.
• ✅ Do you remember the December when it snowed every day?
• ✅ We spent the Christmas just before we moved to Spain with my parents.

8. Don’t use an article with labels followed by numbers

When a noun is used as a label and is followed by a number, letter or similar identifying code, we normally use no article. In expressions such as page 10, question 7, room 4, chapter 6 and platform 2, the number itself identifies which one is meant:

• ❌ Please turn to the page 2.
• ✅ Please turn to page 2.

• ❌ You didn’t answer the question 5.
• ✅ You didn’t answer question 5.

• ❌ The train will arrive at the platform 9.
• ✅ The train will arrive at platform 9.

• ❌ The episode 4 was my favourite.
• ✅ Episode 4 was my favourite.

Free zero article worksheets