Level A1

Zero Article

plural things in general and things we do not count take no a and no the; the comes back when we both know which ones.

I like dogs.

Look: I like dogs. You mean dogs in general, not some dogs we already know.

Forms

• I like dogs. — dogs in general: no little word
• Cats like milk. — milk is not counted: no little word
• The dogs are big. — these very dogs: the comes back

A common mistake

Wrong: I like the dogs.

Right: I like dogs.

Here we mean dogs in general, so the has nothing to point to. We say: I like dogs.

More examples

Sparrows are small birds.

Sparrows in general, and small birds in general: Sparrows are small birds.

We have lunch at one.

Names of meals usually go without the: We have lunch at one.

Mistakes explained in clips