| 释义 |
Nouns used without a determiner Certain noun phrases do not have a determiner at all.We usually leave out the determiner when we use a noun or a noun phrase in the plural to make a generalization.- He sells cars for a living.
- Tigers are nearing extinction.
- Onions are good for you.
- Grassy hills rise on all sides of the town.
Singular nouns that are uncountable are used without a determiner when you are making a general reference.- New information is now available.
- Do you like jelly?
- This shop sells furniture.
- This is particularly true when the uncountable noun is used for the first time in a general way in the course of a conversation or piece of writing. They can be used with a determiner when the reference becomes specific. For example, you can ask someone if they like cake as a rule, and then ask the person if she would like some of your cake.
- The information she gave me was inaccurate.
- Would you like some of the jelly I made for the party?
- We don’t let the dog climb onto the furniture.
There are a number of idiomatic expressions that usually omit a determiner. Examples are expressions that refer to:- travel, when you proceed by: bicycle, car, bus, train, ship, boat, plane.
- Anna went by bicycle but Lucy went by car.
- He was chased by police on foot.
- time with the prepositions at, before, or by, dawn, sunrise, sunset, noon, midnight, night, supper, dinner, day, night.
- Catherine rose at dawn and went to bed at sunset.
- We swam in the pool by day and partied by night.
- meals: to have breakfast, tea, lunch.
- Jane had breakfast at home.
- She met Diana for lunch.
- institutions, with the prepositions to or at: church, hospital, prison, school, work.
- John was taken to hospital with a broken ankle.
- Lucy has been kept late at school today.
- Ruth was at home all day.
- seasons of the year, when you are generalizing, e.g: in spring, in summer, in autumn, in winter.
- In autumn, the grapes are harvested by hand.
- The place is packed in summer.
However, all of these words are used with the definite article when you are talking about a specific time, place, season, etc.- Philip travelled by the same train as Mehandra.
- Just look at the wonderful sunset.
- Pam works at the hospital.
- I can’t work well in the summer.
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