The article is a kind of function word, which has certain significance in itself. Mainly placed in front of nouns to play a restrictive role (prepositional attribute). About 70% of nouns must be preceded by articles, but in Chinese, most articles are redundant. Therefore, to form the habit of using things, we must strengthen training.

4. occasions when articles are not used

Before articles are not used for a few nouns, there are mainly the following situations:

4.6 When addressing family members and relatives, the address should be used together with the surname without articles.

Mother, father, brother, dinner? I'm ready.

Mom, dad, brother, dinner is ready.

Uncle, will you come again?

Uncle, will you come again?

Doctor, do I need an injection?

Doctor, do I need an injection?

President Obama will visit China soon.

President Obama will visit China soon.

Secretary-General Annan plays an important role.

Secretary-General Annan plays an important role.

Professor, I have a question.

Professor, I have a question.

4.7? Name/Place Name+University? There is no article before the organization name.

New York University

University of Houston University of Houston

University of Cambridge

Sun Yat-sen University Sun Yat-sen University

4.8 Many idioms don't use articles.

Have breakfast/lunch/dinner.

Noon/evening/dawn.

Face to face

advance and consolidate at every step

From top to bottom, from top to bottom (up and down)

continuously

Day after day, day after day

Note: The following nouns with definite articles have different meanings from those without definite articles.

1) has no article, indicating the function and function of the place indicated by the noun.

Go to bed.

Go to school. Go to school.

Going to college requires going to college.

Go to church. Go to church.

Go to the hospital

Prison is in prison.

Go to court. Go to court.

Go to college. Go to college.

2) When the article is added, it means other things, which has nothing to do with the function of the place referred to by the noun.

Go to school.

Go to sleep, go to sleep.

Go to church.

Go to the hospital. Go to the hospital.

Go to prison, go to prison.

Go to court for a lawsuit.

Focus error:

Because there are no articles in Chinese and most nouns in English must be preceded by articles, beginners often miss many articles before they get into the habit of using articles.

The books on the desk are borrowed from the library.

? The books on the desk are borrowed from the library.

? The books on the desk are borrowed from the library.

Did you see the big clock on the roof?

? Did you see the big clock on the roof?

? Do you see the big clock on the top of the building?

Trees are alive.

? A tree has its life.

? A tree has its own life.

Author: Dandan English (WeChat official account: English grammar learning)

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