Sometimes the article is not used where we naturally expect to find it in accordance with the rules. No change of meaning is observed in these cases. The article is often omitted in newspaper headings, telegrams, in stage directions. Gas Blast Kills Woman. (Daily Worker) Girl Gymnast Keeps Title. (Moscow News) The article is often omitted with homogeneous members closely connected with each other and joined by the conjunction and. In most cases, they go in pairs. The breakfast was taken away, and that meal over, it was the general custom of uncle and niece to separate. (Ch. Bronte)

Use of article with 'most' #1. Most + adjective. The definite article is used when most serves to form the superlative degree of an adjective. This is the most interesting chapter in the book. The use of the indefinite article shows that a high degree of a quality is meant. Most has the same meaning as very, exceedingly. Caroline found that the old maid had been a most devoted daughter and sister. (Ch. Bronte) NOTE: Occasionally the form of the superlative degree does not express comparison, but a high degree of a quality. He listened with the most profound [...]

Names of languages when they are not followed by the noun language are used without articles: She knows English. Note the peculiar use of the definite article in: It is a translation from the English (the Frenchetc.), What is the English (the French etc.) for ‘la ilaha illallah’? The definite article is used if the noun is modified by a particularizing attribute: The English of America differs from the English of England. When the noun language is mentioned,the definite article is used: the English language, the German language.

Names of meals are used without articles. When did you have dinner? Is dinner ready? Mother is cooking dinner. While they were at breakfast, the letters were brought in. (Austen) I have finished breakfast, ring the bell. (Ch. Bronte) The definite article is used when the nouns are modified by a particularizing attribute or when the situation makes them definite. The dinner we had to-day was very substantial. The dinner was a success. The indefinite article is used if the name of a meal is modified by a descriptive attribute. After a hearty breakfast the four gentlemen sallied forth to [...]

The noun town when used with prepositions does not take an article: #1. when we mean the nearest town (if we live in the country) or the town we live in. You cannot go to town tomorrow. (Austen) What can you have to do in town...? (Austen) #2. when the noun town is opposed to the noun He was not used to country life, having spent twenty years in town. Otherwise, the noun town is used with the definite or indefinite article.  I want to go to the town where I was born.

The nouns school, college, bed, prison, jail are used without an article when they lose their concrete meaning and express the purpose for which the objects denoted by these nouns serve. When these nouns denote concrete objects the articles are used according to the general principle. #1. School, College to be at school to go to school } to be a schoolboy (schoolgirl) to be at college — to be a student of a college to leave school — to finish or drop one’s studies School begins at five. She went to College in the North. (Gow and D’Usseau) His [...]

Names of seasons are used without articles if they show a certain time of the year. It was spring. I like spring. The definite article is used when these nouns are modified by a particularizing attribute or when the situation makes them definite. It happened in the spring of 1930. The spring was cold and rainy. The indefinite article is used when these nouns are modified by a descriptive attribute. It was a cold spring. When names of seasons are modified by the adjectives early or late, no articles are used. It was early spring.

The nouns day, night, morning, evening are used without articles: #1. if day and morning mean ‘light’, and night and evening mean ‘darkness’, or if they denote a certain part of the day. Day broke and we started. The sun had gone and night had come. (Abrahams) Day is meant for work, night for sleep. It was evening. The river was before them. (Dreiser) #2. in the expressions by day, at night, from morning till It is easier to work by day than at night. The definite article is used when these nouns are modified by a particularizing attribute or [...]

The usual place of the article is before the noun if it is not modified by an attribute; if the noun is modified by an attribute, the article is placed before the latter. However, there are cases when the article follows the attribute. #1. The definite article follows the attribute expressed by the pronouns both, all. Both the stories were interesting. All the stories were interesting. #2. The indefinite article follows the attribute expressed by an adjective after so, too, as. Mr. Pickwick could not resist so tempting an opportunity of studying human nature. (Dickens) You compel me to tell [...]