Use of the zero article

The zero article is used in various and diverse ways:

1. in plural, if the indefinite article has a singular number

2. as a representative of a class of things in plural

Examples

Fotomodelle müssen auf ihre Figur achten.

Informatiker finden sofort Arbeit.

3. in singular, when it indicates the material something is made of or with collective nouns

Examples

Die Kette ist aus Gold.

Welche Länder bauen immer noch Tabak an?

4. With abstract ideas that express state, process or quality

Examples

Man braucht dazu Geduld.

Zielstrebigkeit ist ein wichtiger Faktor zum Erfolg.

5. With temporal noun phrases without a preposition but with an attributive adjective

Examples

Er kommt nächste Woche vorbei.

Letztes Jahr hat er geheiratet.

6. With noun phrases of quantity

Examples

zwei Liter Milch

ein Kilo Schafskäse

7. With proper names

Exceptions:

	Examples
The definite article is used for some country names	die Türkei, die Schweiz, der Iran, die USA
Geographical names accompanied by an attributive adjective are preceded by the neuter definite article	das antike Griechenland, das moderne Europa
Person names can be accompanied by the definite article	der Paul, die Silke
Names of rivers, mountains, seas, lakes are always accompanied by the definite article	der Isar, der Olymp, das Schwarze Meer, Der Bodensee
Names of streets and squares are always accompanied by the definite article	die Burgmeierstraße, der Alexanderplatz