'The' and 'no article'; special cases

 There are some special cases in English where we don't use "the" or any article at all. Here are a few examples:

1. Names: We don't use "the" or any article before people's names, cities, countries, and other proper nouns. For example:

• Mary is coming over for dinner tonight.
• I've always wanted to visit Paris.
• My parents are from India.

2. Unspecified locations: We don't use "the" or any article when talking about an unspecified location, like a city or country. For example:

• She's moving to New York.
• Have you ever been to Japan?
• I'm planning a trip to Europe.

3. Activities: We don't use "the" or any article when talking about activities in general. For example:

• I enjoy reading.
• He likes playing basketball.
• They love traveling.

Exercise: Fill in the blanks with either "the" or no article in the following sentences:

1. ___ sky is so clear today.
2. Have you ever been to ___ United States?
3. She's going to ___ gym after work.
4. I love listening to ___ classical music.
5. They're planning a trip to ___ beach.

Answer Key:

1. No article
2. The
3. The
4. No article
5. The