Why do Chinese learners of English often omit articles like "a" or "the"?

Chinese learners of English frequently omit articles such as "a" or "the" because these grammatical structures do not exist in their first language. Mandarin Chinese operates differently from English in terms of noun categorization and definiteness, lacking a direct equivalent to English articles. There are no articles in Chinese, so learners may not intuitively apply the concept when speaking or writing in English. This difference can lead to the omission of articles, as learners may not recognize their necessity or may not have the same familiarity with the rules governing their use in English.

Understanding the grammatical structures present in one's native language versus those in a target language is essential for language acquisition, particularly when transitioning to a language that employs rules and structures that are unfamiliar.