Zero definite article

Zero definite article is a speaking behavior where the definite article "the" or "a" is not used.

The definite article is sometimes omitted before words such as "prison", "school", "bed", and (in non-American dialects) "hospital", hence:

* "She is in hospital."
* "He was taken to prison."

when this is a generalisation rather than a specific location.

Where a particular location is meant, then the definite article is used, viz.

* "He was taken to the prison."
* "She was collected from the hospital."
* "We were jumping on the bed."

In some nonstandard forms of British English, "the" is omitted in places that standard English has it, leading to sentences such as:

* "I'm going to shop." (I'm going to the shop)

* "I'm driving down road." (I'm driving down the road)

It's possible to discern, for example, in Lancashire and Yorkshire English accents a minuscule pause in place of the definite article. Often there is a slight staccato on the preceding word. i.e., "to" is reduced to a simple "t" or "tuh". Thus, "Am going tuh _ pub", or "Am going __ pub" where "to" is entirely replaced by a pause. The "t" sound may also be appended to the preceding word even if the pause is present.

ee also

*Zero at
*Zero did
*Zero do
*Zero if
*Zero of
*Zero to
*Zero past marking
*Zero plural marking
*Zero possessive marking
*Zero third person agreement