What Is Zero Article?

What Is Zero Article?

Friends, as we know, the English articles "a" "an" and "the" refer to the words. and friends, even we know this that grammar rules differ from language to language, making it difficult to know when to use them.

But don't worry! The good news is that some types of nouns do not require an article in speech or writing. This idea is often called the "zero article".

There are many types of nouns that do not precede articles in English. Other nouns get no article only in certain types of statements such as generalizations.

In English grammar, we use the term zero article when a noun is not preceded by a definite article (the) or indefinite article (a,an). Zero article is also called the zero determiner.


In general, no article is used with proper nouns, countable nouns where the context is indeterminate, or plural count nouns where the context is indeterminate. Furthermore, no article is used when referring to the means of transport (by plane) or the general sense of time and place (in prison, at midnight). In addition, linguists have found that in regional varieties of English known as New English, the omission of an article is often done to express non-specificity.

ZERO Article with Plural and Uncountable Nouns

Friends, we do not use plural nouns and articles before uncountable nouns when making generalizations.A generalization is a broad statement or a thought that can be applied to a whole set of people or things.As we know, the plural noun is the form of a word that relates to more than one person or thing, such as apples, dogs, telephones, and children.

Let’s see an example of a generalization with plural nouns:

• Cows are much more useful than buffaloes.

This is a very broad statement applicable to two groups of animals, so we do not use articles.However, we use plural noun articles in specific descriptions. Here is given an example for comparison: 

• The cats at the home are very intelligent.

The speaker is talking about specific cats in above sentence - who are at home. hence article "the" is used before the plural noun "cats".


Now, let's move to uncountable nouns.

The uncountable noun includes material (such as gold), matter (such as water and fire), abstract things (such as music and justice) and some other things.

Generalizations with uncountable nouns are not preceded by articles. Let’s see an example:

• I love reading newspaper while I take tea.

The person is not speaking of specific reading. They are saying they enjoy the general act of reading newspaper when they take tea

For comparison, here is a specific statement:

• The newspaper at the last month was too costly.

The person is speaking of specific newspaper – newspaper at the last month. So the article “the” appears before the countable noun “newspaper.”

Proper nouns 

Zero article also applies to other types of nouns. For example, we do not usually place an article in front of a proper noun - a word or group of words that names a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are easy to recognize because they begin with capital letters, such as the Month of August, 7th Street, Mexico City and British English Academy.Have look at the example:

• Aman teaches English at British English Academy.

Note:- that none of the proper nouns have an article before it.


However, articles should remain in place when they are part of something's full name, such as the newspaper ( The Hindustan Times), the dance group (A Rock Dance Club) and Country the America. here's an example:

• My favorite dance group in college time was A Rock Dance Club.

Transport Phrases

Now, on to transport phrases.No article is used with some phrases related to transportation, such as: "by car," "by train," "by bus," "by air" and "on foot."Take this example:

• My dance group traveled from America to Mumbai by air.

Time Phrases

Furthermore, we do not use articles with some time words and phrases, such as "at night," "at midnight," "tomorrow," "today" and "tomorrow." Articles are also not used for common time phrases. Words like "last," such as "last night," "last week," and "last year," are given in this example:

• Last night, I saw a murder in that place .

Common Institutions

Subsequently, no article is used to refer to certain phrases that relate to well-known institutions or places, such as "at home," "at work," "at school," in class, "in college" And "in jail." Take this example:

• Sorry, I am very busy because I’m in class. I’ll talk to you later.

However, in American English, there are some exceptions, such as "in the hospital."And, finally, we do not use the article regarding the general role of most common places with the word "class" in this context:

• When does class starts in private schools?

Thank You !