68. What groups of nouns are preferably used without articles?

a) naming a group of things, an abstract notion or a material of which the listener or reader does not or may not know(countable nouns in plural or uncountable nouns having no attribute)

Marney always noticed trees. Trees were his business.

There was pain in the thought and happiness too.

b) naming a group of things, an abstract notion or a material as having some additional characteristics that listener or reader does not or may not know(countable nouns in plural or uncountable nouns having a non-limiting attribute)

I like red apples/pickled vegetables...

Note 1: If there is no limiting attribute to the uncountable noun or the noun in the plural and the contrast to other things is not stressed, the word “some” may be used.

Give me tea and sandwiches. (Not milk and cakes.)

Give me some tea and some sandwiches. I am hungry.

The whole place needs airing. – Then let’s open some windows.

Note 2: Care should be taken not to mix up names of materials, with which the indefinite article is not common, with homonymous countable nouns with which the indefinite article is found if necessary.

Note 3: The indefinite article may be sometimes used with un­countable abstract nouns if a special aspect of the notion is meant.

I saw light in the distance (not darkness). (What did you see in the distance?)

I saw a dim light in the distance (not a bright light). (What kind of light did you see? / What light did you see in the distance?)

Note 4: With some abstract nouns the absence of the article is traditional in the following structures: with nouns denoting

• meals( breakfast, dinner, supper, lunch);

• parts of the day (morning, evening, day, night, sunset, sunrise, etc.);

• seasons ( summer, winter, autumn, spring).

Mind that the words in this case have no attribute or the attribute "early" or "late".

a) when these words are used as subject, the predicate denoting the beginning, end or continuation

began

Dinner (supper, etc.) is over Morning (evening, etc.) | came

is on the way

Winter (summer, spring, etc.) came

was over

b) when the word is used as predicative

It was dinner (supper, morning, winter, etc.)

c) when the word is used as part of a prepositional phrase, functioning generally as an adverbial modifier

at dinner, at night, in summer

but:

in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon

I used to walk late at night, when I was able. I used to swim early in the mornings. (G.) Breakfast will be ready at half past seven, but I thought you might like some coffee. (A. W.) It was early afternoon when I found myself driving down the hill. (Eyre) but:

It was a balmy evening. (I.Sh.) It was a fine clear morning in early spring. (DuM.) The men returned the next afternoon, excitement in their voices. (O'M.)*

Note 5:

The zero article is sometimes found with countable nouns in the singular within a homogeneous group of words.

She could only see sea and sand and sunlight and the blue-gray peaks that crowned the island. (Cn.) Arrayed in silk shirt, khaki knickers and hip boots... (Lr.)

c) No article is generally found:

1) with names of living beings

Proper nouns will be used here either without modifiers or when they are preceded by:

a) words denoting rank, title or relationship "

Tommy Mr. Smith

I spoke about King Lear

Queen Mary

Uncle Jack

Sister Carrie

It was Captain Stewart who joined me at the bulwark. (G.)

"Am I interrupting you, Ann?" — "Not a bit. I'm only copying out a story for Aunt Nesta." (Wd.)

But: The girl Dana was a model. Her husband played the violin in a television orchestra. (Rb.)

b) emotionally coloured epithets, such as "young", "old", "good", "poor", "little", "honest", "kind", "dear"

young

I spoke about poor Tom

dear

honest

You're getting a complex about poor old Charlotte. She is not so bad. (Eyre)

2) names of countries, cities or towns, streets and squares: Russia, Latin America, South Africa, New Zealand, London, Moscow, Fleet Street, Piccadilly Circus, etc.

Berkeley Square lay on one side, Park Lane on the other. That quaint ancient labyrinth of streets called Shepherd Market was just beyond. (Ed.)

Note:

With some of such words the definite article, however, is used, which is explained by the existing tradition:

the Crimea, the Argentine (but: Argentina), the Riviera, the Hague, the Haymarket, the Strand, the Mall (street names in London).