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Here are more situations in which no articles are used:
| 1. |
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In general, do not use articles before names
of divinities:
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not this:
but this:
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*He believes in the God.
He believes in God.
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not this:
but this:
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*The Hawai'ian goddess of
fire is named the Pele.
The Hawai'ian goddess of
fire is named Pele.
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| 2. |
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Do not use articles before the names of
academic (school) subjects:
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not this:
but this:
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*John is majoring in the Biology.
John is majoring in Biology.
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not this:
but this:
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*Ruth has a Master's degree in
the C.I.S. (Computer Information
Systems).
Ruth has a Master's degree in C.I.S.
(Computer Information Systems).
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| 3. |
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Do not use articles before the names of sports:
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not this:
but this:
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*The boxing is a violent sport.
Boxing is a violent sport.
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not this:
but this:
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*The hurling is an unusual sport
which is played on ice.
Hurling is an unusual sport which
is played on ice.
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| 4. |
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Do not use articles before the names
of holidays:
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not this:
but this:
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*The Christmas is an important
family holiday.
Christmas is an important
family holiday.
|
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|
|
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not this:
but this:
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*In the U.S., the Independence
Day is celebrated on July 4th.
In the U.S., Independence
Day is celebrated on July 4th.
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| 5. |
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Do not use articles before abstract nouns:
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not this:
but this:
|
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*The patience is a quality which
he greatly admires.
Patience is a quality which he
greatly admires.
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not this:
but this:
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*The knowledge and the wisdom
are two very different things.
Knowledge and wisdom are
two very different things.
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not this:
but this:
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*Is it possible to have both the
self-confidence and the humility
at the same time?
Is it possible to have both
self-confidence and humility
at the same time?
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_______________________________________________
Special Notes:
| 1. |
|
Look at this sentence:
"The Hawai'ian goddess of fire is named Pele."
In this sentence, goddess is a general noun, but
Hawai'ian and of fire make goddess specific.
For that reason, goddess needs an article.
The is used because there is only one
Hawai'ian goddess of fire.
Pele is, however, a name. For that reason,
no article is used.
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| 2. |
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Look at this sentence:
"Ruth has a Master's degree in C.I.S.
(Computer Information Systems)."
In this sentence, degree is a general noun;
Master's tells what kind. Because degree
is general, an article is needed. Because there
are many different Master's degrees and
because "Master's" begins with a consonant
sound, a is used.
C.I.S. (Computer Information Systems)
is, however, a name. For that reason,
no article is used.
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| 3. |
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Compare these two sentences:
"In the U.S., Independence Day is celebrated
on July 4th."
"In the U.S., Independence Day is celebrated
on the 4th of July."
Do you understand why the is used before
"U.S."? Do you understand why the is not
used with "July 4th,", but is used with "4th
of July"?
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