Omission of The Article
Omission of The Article :
The Article is not used…
(1) Before a common noun used in its widest sense
1. Man is mortal.
2. What kind of rose is it?
(2) Before names of materials
1. Gold is a costly metal.
2. Rice grows in India and Egypt.
(3) Usually before proper Nouns
1. Delhi is not far away.
2. This man is a second Newton.
3. He is the Ramanujam of this century.
4. Coimbatore is the Manchester of India.
5. Newton was a man of knowledge.
But when the article is used before proper nouns, they become common nouns.
(4) Before Abstract nouns used in a general sense
1. Wisdom is practical intelligence.
2. Honesty is the best policy.
3. Virtue is a relative term.
4. What is one man's virtue is another man's vice.
Note : An abstract noun, when it is qualified, by an adjective or an adjectival phrase or clause, may have the article
1. The Simplicity of Mahathma Gandhi is famous.
2. He showed a courage worthy of a head of an institution.
3. I cannot forget the love with which my captors treated.
(5) Before languages
1. We are learning Arabic.
2. I know Tamil.
3. You better speak in English.
4. He prefers Hindi.
(6) Before institutions, school, college, church, bed, table, hospital, market and prison when these places are visited or used for their primary purpose.
1. 1 learnt English at school.
2. We attend church everyday.
3. I do not like to stay in bed after 3 A.M.
4. My wife is still in hospital. 5. I go to market everyday.
Note : THE is used with these words.
When we want to refer to them as a definite place - building or object rather than to the normal activity that goes on there
1. The hospital is nearby.
2. I met her at the church.
3. The bed is new.
4. The school, where my children study, is far away.
(7) Before names of relations, like father, mother, aunt, uncle and also cook and nurse, meaning your cook, our cook, his cook, our nurse
1. Father has gone to the office.
2. Mother is coming now.
3. Aunt wants you to come immediately.
4. Nurse is there to take care of the child.
(8) Before predicative nouns denoting a unique position (i.e.) a position that is normally held at one time by one person only
1. Mr. Ram became Headmaster of the school in 1957.
2. Mr. Gandhi was elected President of the Congress.
3. I was elected Chairman of the Port Trust in 1965.
(9) In certain phrases consisting of transitive verb followed by its object
1. To bring word
2. To cast anchor
3. To catch fire
4. To give battle
5. To give way
6. To lay seige
7. To leave home
8. To lose heart
9. To send word
10. To set foot
11. To set sail
12. To strike root
13. To take breath
14. To take offence
Omission of The Article
The Grammar Index
