Anonymous  +  949942 Thu, 22 Oct 09 05:19 PM Hello! I have a small problem with two sentences in English. The thing is - I  know the right answers but I'm not sure how to explain them. Here they are: 1.The majority of problems we came across were staff-related and showed a lack of training in food safety.  (my question: why "in food safety" and not in " the food safety" - how to explain this?) 2.  Bacteria don't make you ill, they point to poor hygiene practices. (why not "to the poor hygiene practices?) I know it may seem easy, but I really don't know how to explain this gramatically. So - thank you for any clues!:) KS Anonymous Articles, Sentences, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Training, Languages

	Avangi  +  950022 Thu, 22 Oct 09 07:24 PM "Food safety" and "poor hygiene practices" are general topics, or subjects for study. You wouldn't say, "She failed in the English." But you would say, "She failed in the English portion of the test." You might consider rules for omitting the definite article. You would need to include the definite article when you're calling attention to the food safety in a particular/definite plant.  We were appalled by the food safety in XYZ's meatpacking plant. Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,194 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier