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Tips, insights, and updates about English learning
Zero Article: When do you not need to use the or a?
Once you have mastered a / an / the, the next level is "when to use none of the three." This article summarizes the most common situations for the zero article: plural generalizations, uncountable generalizations, meals, sports, languages, go to school, and by bus. Each point is paired with A2-level example sentences and correct/incorrect demonstrations, plus a quick tip at the end to help you decide in a second.
English Articles a / an / the: The Tiny Words Chinese Lacks, Making Them the Easiest to Miss
Because Chinese has no articles, native Chinese speakers most frequently omit a / an / the entirely. Using example sentences tailored to A1–A2 levels, this article will help you distinguish between three situations—indefinite articles, definite articles, and zero articles—and provide a self-questioning checklist for "which one to use" so you can get them right every time.