Determiners

Articles: the vs. zero article

• The oranges are on the table.
  The = article

• Oranges are grown in Spain.
  ___Oranges = zero article

The zero article is used with indefinite plurals and uncountable nouns. We use it when we are talking about these things in general.

• Chocolate is made from cacao beans.
  NOT: The chocolate is made from cacao beans.
• Oranges are grown in Spain.
  NOT: The oranges are grown in Spain.
• I like dogs.
  NOT: I like the dogs.

The article the (definite article) is used with specific plurals and uncountable nouns.

• The chocolate is expensive in this shop. (definite article: Which chocolate? The chocolate in this shop.)
• The oranges on the table are for dessert. (definite article: Which oranges? The oranges on the table.)

Here are more examples to compare:

• I like music.
• The music is very loud in this bar.

• She's very interested in poetry.
• The poetry in this magazine is excellent.

• Books are expensive.
• Put the books on the table.

In scientific and technical language we can use the in generalizations with singular countable nouns, to talk about the whole class of things. For example:

• The koala can climb trees.
• Koalas can climb trees.
  NOT: The koalas can climb trees.