Acronyms

Do use "the" before EAC, EpA, FAA, AMS, CCM, GCM, and other acronyms that are not pronounceable as words (exceptions noted above). Do use "the" when any acronym serves as an adjective (the NASA program).

Zero article

usually nouns have an article 'a', 'an' or 'the' Sometimes there is no article with a noun and this can be called the 'zero' article.

When we speak generally we often omit the definite article 'the'

  1. Eg: The milk has run out. (The milk in a particular place perhaps)
  2. Milk is expensive these days. (Milk generally)

We don't use an article:

  1. to talk about plural and uncountable nouns or when talking about things in general:
    • I'm terrified of heights
    • I'm into drum and bass.
    • I hate cheese.
  2. before countries, towns, streets, languages and single mountains:
    • I'm from China.
    • I've climbed Mount Everest.
    • She speaks French.
  3. Before some places and with some forms of transport:
    • I live at home with my parents.
    • I came here by car.
    • He goes to work by bus.
  4. In exclamations with what + uncountable noun:
    • What beautiful weather!
    • What loud music!
    • What disgusting food!
  1. Credit is squeezed as debt spirals higher.
  2. Credit cards have lost their luster
  1. The young generation
  2. Young people
  3. The young

More reading and practice

Make sentences

For each word try to make two sentences. One with THE + word, one with a/an (indefinite article) and the other without any article.

  1. dog
  2. Countries
  3. young
  4. life
  5. English
  6. future
  7. experience
  8. problem