Zero Article and Special Cases

Introduction to Determiners and Articles

ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ଏହି ବିଭାଗରେ ଆମେ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରକ (determiners) ଏବଂ ଉପପଦ (articles) ବିଷୟରେ ପଢ଼ିବା। ଏହା ନାମପଦ (noun phrase) ପୂର୍ବରୁ କିପରି ବ୍ୟବହୃତ ହୁଏ ତାହା ଜାଣିବା।

You have previously learned that determiners are often pre-modifiers of a noun phrase [[1]]. Articles, specifically 'a', 'an' (indefinite articles), and 'the' (definite article), are a type of determiner. While 'a/an' refer to non-specific singular count nouns, 'the' refers to specific persons or things [[1]]. However, there are specific situations where no article is used (Zero Article) and special cases where 'the' is required.

Zero Article (No Article)

ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ଏହି ବିଭାଗରେ ଆମେ ଶିଖିବା ଯେ କେବେ ଆମେ କୌଣସି ନାମପଦ ପୂର୍ବରୁ 'a', 'an', କିମ୍ବା 'the' ବ୍ୟବହାର କରୁନାହିଁ।

We omit articles in several contexts:

• General Reference to Nouns: When referring to uncount or count nouns in a general sense, without specifying a particular instance.

  • Example: Water is essential for life. (general uncount noun) [[1]]
  • Example: Books are our good friends. (general plural count noun) [[1]]
  • Example: We have lunch at one o'clock every day. (general reference to a meal) [[5]]

• Places for their Basic Purpose: When referring to institutions like school, hospital, church, bed, class, college, university, prison, jail, town, home, or sea, if the visit or presence is for their primary, intended purpose.

  • Example: Mihir goes to school. (as a pupil to learn) [[4]]
  • Example: Priti is in hospital. (as a patient) [[4]]

• General Mode of Transport: When discussing transport generally using 'by'.

  • Example: We go to school by bus. [[4]]
  • Example: Travel by train is safe. [[4]]
  • Note: on foot also takes no article. [[4]]

• Exact Time of Day/Night: For specific points in time like dawn, dusk, sunrise, sunset, noon, midnight, daybreak, or nine o'clock.

  • Example: He arrived at noon. [[4]]

• Names of Mountains, Lakes, and Most Countries/Islands:

  • Mount Everest, Chilika Lake [[8]]
  • India, China, Australia, Sri Lanka [[8]]

• Languages: When referring to the language itself.

  • Example: English is a global language. (But The English refers to people) [[7]]

• Watching TV: I watch TV everyday. [[7]]

Special Cases for 'The' (Definite Article)

ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ଏଠାରେ ଆମେ କିଛି ବିଶେଷ ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣିବା ଯେଉଁଠାରେ 'the' ବ୍ୟବହାର କରାଯାଏ, ଯଦିଓ ଏହା ସାଧାରଣ ଲାଗିପାରେ।

'The' is used in specific situations, even when it might seem general at first glance:

• Specific Reference to Nouns: When an uncount or count noun is made specific by context.

  • Example: The water in this pot is muddy. (specific water) [[1]]
  • Example: The books I bought yesterday are helpful. (specific books) [[1]]

• Places for Other Purposes: When institutions are visited for a reason other than their primary purpose.

  • Example: His father accompanies him to the school. (not to study) [[4]]
  • Example: The cat is on the bed. (not to sleep) [[4]]

• Specific Journey by Transport: When referring to a particular journey or a specific vehicle.

  • Example: I took a/the bus to my village. [[4]]
  • Example: I came here in a car. [[4]]
  • Example: I went to Sri Lanka on the morning flight. [[4]]

• Adjectives Referring to a Group of People: To refer to an entire group defined by an adjective.

  • Example: The blind depend on our support. (= all blind men) [[7]]
  • Example: The young as well as the old need our care. [[7]]

• Nationality Adjectives (for People): To refer to the people of a country.

  • Example: The English left India in 1947. (people of England) [[7]]
  • Note: a Japanese means a person of Japanese nationality. [[7]]

• Unique Structures, Great Books, Newspapers:

  • The Taj Mahal, The Eiffel tower [[7]]
  • The Gita, The Times of India [[7]]

• Service Systems & Musical Instruments:

  • over the phone, on the next train, listen to the radio [[7]]
  • plays the piano, play the guitar [[7]]

• Geographical Features: Rivers, oceans, seas, mountain ranges.

  • The Ganga, The Pacific, The Himalayas [[8]]

• Federations, Kingdoms, Island Groups: Countries that are federations or kingdoms, or island countries made of smaller islands.

  • The USA, The UK, The Andamans, The West Indies [[8]]

• Astronomical Bodies:

  • the sun, the moon, the earth, the stars [[8]]

Worked Examples

1. Fill in the blanks with 'the' if necessary, otherwise put a cross (x):

   • (i) Mr Pujari is _____ headmaster of our school. (Answer: the, because 'headmaster' here refers to a specific person in a specific role) [[8]]
   • (ii) I cannot speak _____ French well. (Answer: x, because 'French' refers to the language) [[8]]
   • (iii) _____ French are artistic people. (Answer: The, because 'French' here refers to the people of France) [[8]]

2. Identify the correct usage:

   • I travel by train. (Correct - general mode of transport) [[4]]
   • I listen to the radio. (Correct - service system) [[7]]