omitting "the"

Question

Hello,I was curious if there are any cases where the word "the" can be omitted before a noun. Here is an example:a. It moves through water better than its cousin, python.b. The water snake moves through the water better than its cousin, python.I'm wondering if it is OK to omit "the" in the first sentence before the word "water."

Avangi · Accepted Answer

The article "the" is often omitted when the noun is uncountable.

Edit.
In this case, omitting "the" implies that you're comparing water to something else.
It's better to drink water than alcohol.
It's better to drink the water than the alcohol.
In the second version, we're talking about water and alcohol which have been previously mentioned.
In the first version, we're talking about water and alcohol in general.

AskAndAnswer · Answer

I don't really understand. Could you please provide an example?

Thanks

Avangi · Answer

Sorry. I was thinking about examples when you replied, and realized that this is not always simple.

Do the examples in my Edit help at all?

- A.

Avangi · Answer

AskAndAnswerI was curious if there are any cases where the word "the" can be omitted before a noun. Here is an example:

AskAndAnswera. It moves through water better than its cousin, python.

AskAndAnswerb. The water snake moves through the water better than its cousin, python.

It's fine to omit the word "the" as you did in example (a).

The problem arises when you try to make a general rule which works for all cases.

Please be careful not to break the eggs. ("Eggs" is countable.) We're talking about a particular group of eggs.

You must always be careful not to break eggs. We're talking about eggs in general. The word "the" is omitted.

The water from the cold water tap is rusty. ("Water" is uncountable.)
Water from the cold water tap is rusty. .It's fine to omit the word "the" in this case.

Anonymous · Answer

AskAndAnswer Hello,I was curious if there are any cases where the word "the" can be omitted before a noun. Here is an example:a. It moves through water better than its cousin, python.b. The water snake moves through the water better than its cousin, python.I'm wondering if it is OK to omit "the" in the first sentence before the word "water."

I just wanted to comment that, in my own experience and opinion, understanding articles usage in English is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, topics that newcomers to the language have to deal with. The thing with articles is that all that's out there for students are rules and guidelines, with no discussions or explanatios being available as to clarify or investigate the thinking behind it..

Please check this page: http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/english-as-a-second-language/definite-article

Fivejedjon · Answer

screamererin my own experience and opinion, understanding articles usage in English is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, topics that newcomers to the language have to deal with.

It's not just newcomers.

A native speaker of British English, I have spent most of my life studying, teaching and/or writing/lecturing about English since graduating (in English) 45 years ago. I can handle most questions learners throw at me, but I simply cannot find satisfactory explanations for some of the apparently arbitrary ways in which we use articles in English.

Michael Swan, someone who is extremely good at explaining many of the finer points of English, devotes 16 pages of his Practical English Usage (3rd edition, 2005) to articles. Part 9 of his articles section has the title the (difficult cases); and part ten is special rules and exceptions. Among other things, he writes "The correct use of articles is one of the most difficult points in English grammar" (p 51); "It is sometimes difficult to know whether or not to use the [....] it is difficult to know which form is correct . The grammatical distinctions in this area are not very clear" (p 60).

omitting "the"

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