平行结构中的冠词：og99

When we are discussing things in general, we normally use zero article with plural and uncountable nouns:

• Formal education in Britain begins when children reach the age of five.
  
  
  
• Basketball is more popular in China than football.
  
  
  
• Patience and gratitude are qualities which are rarely observed in the youth of today.

But note, when we want to be specific:

• The education I received was substandard.
  
  
  
• The football played by Liverpool in their last match was awesome.

There are a number of common fixed expressions used with certain prepositions involving everyday time and place nouns where zero article is required:

• At university I never bother with lunch, but always eat breakfast and supper. At school I always ate lunch and dinner, but never breakfast.
  
  
  
• In Newcastle, you can always get into town late at night and home again by tube, bus or taxi