L11-Omission of Articles

Omission of Articles
Some common types of nouns that don t take an article are:
• Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian (unless you are referring to the population of the nation: "The Spanish are known for their warm hospitality.")
• Names of sports: volleyball, hockey, baseball
• Names of academic subjects: mathematics, biology, history, computer science
Here are the rules for when to use "A, An or The":
• a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with consonants
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.
• an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with vowels (a,e,i,o,u)
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.
• the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener know)
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn t he?
• The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time you repeat that object use "the".
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.
• DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as "The United States".
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
They live in northern British Columbia.
• Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas -
My country borders on the Pacific Ocean
• DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general
I like Russian tea.
She likes reading books.
• DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport
He has breakfast at home.
I go to university.
He comes to work by taxi.