Why is there no article in "____ Irish weather....." ?
Many students wonder why there is no definite article before "Irish weather is normally cool and wet in October."
Irish weather is specific, isn't it?
Well, yes, but think about the fundamental meaning of the definite article. When you use it, you are telling your reader that you think they know which one you mean. How many Irish weathers are there? One. So why would you tell your reader that you think they know which Irish weather you are talking about? That doesn't make sense, because there are not many Irish weathers to chose from.
Here's an example.
(Jim lives in Canada. Mary lives in Ireland.)
Ring Ring. Ring Ring.
Jim: Hello?
Mary: Hey Jim. It's Mary.
Jim: Oh, hi Mary. How are you?
Mary: Pretty good. The weather* has been a bit miserable, though.
Jim: Oh ya? It's lovely here in Toronto. It's a bit cool, but at least it's bright and sunny, and all the leaves are changing colour. It's beautiful. The weather** in Toronto really suits me.
Mary: You're lucky. Irish weather*** is normally cool and wet in October. Not much fun.
* this is a fixed expression with the definite article
** this is a noun phrase and needs an article -- you need the definite article because it is clear which weather you are talking about (in Toronto)
*** no article because Irish tell the reader which weather you are talking about, and you don't need to tell the reader you think they know WHICH Irish weather you are talking
