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Omission of Article
While some nouns combine with one article or the other based on whether they are countable or non-
countable, others simply never take either article.

Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:

1. Names of languages and nationalities
a. Chinese b. English c. Spanish d. Russian

2. Names of sports
a. volleyball b. hockey c. baseball

3. Names of academic subjects

a. mathematics b. biology c. history d. computer science

Rule: The is not placed before roman numerals

• George V • Alamgir II

Rule: Article is omitted--------

a) Before names of substances (materials) and abstract nouns (Uncountable nouns).
Example;(Jealousy, Cleanliness, Gardening, patriotism, death, peace etc.)
• Sugar is bad for your teeth. • Gold is precious metal
• Wisdom is the gift of God. • Honesty is the best policy.

Note: Uncountable Nouns take ‘The’ when used in a particular sense;

Example:
• Would you pass me the sugar? (=the sugar on the table)
• The wisdom of Solomon is great.

Rule: Before plural countable nouns used in general sense.

• Children like chocolates
• Computers are used in many offices.

Note: Such nouns take ‘The’ when used in particular sense

Example: Where are the children? (=our children)

Rule: Before most proper nouns, names of people (e.g. Assad, Ahmed etc.), names of continents, countries,
cities, towns, Names of individual mountains, Individual islands, lakes, hills etc.
Example:
• Europe • Pakistan • Karachi • K-2 • Netherland • Kenjhar lake

Rule:Before meals (used in general sense); as,

Example:
• What time do you have lunch? • Dinner is ready.
Note: We use ‘a’ when there is an adjective before breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc. We use ‘the’ when we
specify.
• I had a late lunch today.
• The dinner we had at the Tourist Hotel was very nice.

Rule: Before Languages and colors (blue, black etc.)

Example:
• I learnt English at school.
• They speak Sindhi at home.
• I prefer blue to yellow.

Note: But when we use the word ‘Language’ then article is used.
Example:
• The English Language. • The Sindhi Language.

Rule: Before words which used in general sense (When these places are visited for their primary purpose)
like School, College, church, bed, table, hospital, market, prison etc.
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Example:
• I learnt French at school
• We go to mosques on Friday.
• He goes to bed at 9 P.M.
• His uncle is still in hospital.

Note: ‘The’ is used with these words when we refer to them as definite place, building or object rather than
to the normal activity that goes on there.
Example
• The school I very near my home. (=School where my children study)
• I met him at the church. (=Remember church is for worship not for meeting)
• The bed is broken. (=Bed of someone!)
• I went to the hospital to see my uncle. (=particular hospital where his uncle is admitted)

Rule: Before names of relations like father, mother, aunt, uncle, and also maid, cook, nurse which mean ‘our
cook’ and ‘our nurse’.
• Father has returned. • Aunts wants you to see her. • Cook has given notice.

Rule: Before nouns denoting a unique position, i.e. position that is normally held at one time by one person
only; as,
He was elected chairman of the board.
Mr. Ahmed became principal of the college in 2010.

Rule: In certain phrases consisting of a transitive verb followed by its object; as,
• To catch fire • To lose heart • To take breath. • To give battle • To cast anchor • To send word
• To give ear • To lay siege • To leave home
Rule: In certain phrases consisting of a preposition followed by its object; as,
• At home • In hand • In debt • By day • By night • At daybreak • At sunrise • At noon • At sunset • At night • At
anchor • At sight • On demand • On earth • By land • By water • By train • By name • On foot • At dinner
• At ease • Underground • Above ground
Rule: ‘The’ is not used before a common noun used in a general sense.
For example; when we use the word ‘man’ to represent the entire human species, we should say ‘man’ and
not ‘the man’
Example
• Man is mortal • Science is helping war • War does not settle anything.

Rule: ‘The’ is not used before names of titles or professions when they precede a proper noun
Example
• Queen Elizabeth (not the Queen Elizabeth)
• King Edward VIII (not the King Edward VIII)
• Lord Tennyson (Not the lord Tennyson)

Rule: The is not used before the names of diseases

Example:
• He died of cholera (not the cholera) • Plague is a fatal disease (not the plague)
Rule: Names of streets
• (Washington Blvd, Main St.)

PREPARED BY: WAQAR KHAN MIANKHEL

AL-QAssAR INstItutE OF HEALtH scIENcEs
DERA IsMAIL KHAN