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Articles and Other Determiners

In the following table, select the definite, indefinite, or zero article [θ] as needed before the noun or noun phrase. Click the teacher icon for explanations and review the uses of these articles on page 1.

1.	---atheθ Chaos is on the rise in ---theanθ Iraq as ---theaθ sectarian violence intensifies.	Chaos and sectarian violence are noncount general nouns. The sentence does not refer to specific incidents of chaos and violence. Iraq is the name of a country, so no article.
2.	---ATheθ Hamilton-Baker report criticized ---theanθ policies of ---atheθ Bush administration with regard to Iraq.	The sentence refers to a specific report. Policies is a limited noun. The phrasal modifier following it makes the noun specific. The third noun phrase specifies a particular administration. All three noun phrases require the definite article.
3.	---TheAθ Yellow River, ---atheθ water source for 140 million of ---theθ China's 1.3 billion people, is receding due to ---atheθ global warming.	Use the definite article with the names of rivers. Water source is a definite noun because it is limited by the phrase that follows it. Global warming is a general noun.
4.	---AAnθ Tibetan nomad named Tsende believes that ---atheθ dragon lives in ---theaθ lakes that flow into the Yellow River. Two decades of drought have convinced Tsende that ---atheθ dragon is angry.	Nomad is an indefinite noun. Dragon is an indefinite noun when first mentioned. It is a definite noun when mentioned a second time. Lakes is made a definite noun by the adjective clause that limits it.
5.	Tsende steps into ---atheθ river, ---aanthe tiny human speck at ---aanthe altitude of 15,000 feet.	The river has been previously mentioned, so it's a definite noun. A tiny human speck is an indefinite noun phrase. An altitude of 15,000 feet is one measure of height.
6.	Tsende has arranged ---aanthe trade with ---atheθ nomad on ---aanthe other side of ---atheθ river. He is carrying five silver rings, which he will trade for ---antheθ sheep.	Trade and nomad are indefinite nouns. A river has only two sides, so the other side and the (previously mentioned) river are definite nouns. Sheep is unspecified because we don't know how many sheep Tsende will get for his five silver rings.
7.	Many nomads have fled ---atheθ land around ---atheθ lakes, but Tsende continues to ram his Buddhist prayer pole into ---antheθ earth and pray to ---atheθ dragon for ---atheθ rain.	Land is made definite by the phrase that follows and limits it. The lakes have been previously mentioned. The earth is the only ground he has to stand on. [a unique noun] The dragon has been previously mentioned. Rain is a general noun.
8.	---ATheθ poor in Venezuela are being victimized by ---aanthe increase in ---atheθ violent crime.	A group noun is formed with the definite article the+adjective. Increase is an indefinite noun of first mention that begins with a vowel sound. Crime is a general noun in this context.
9.	---ATheθ Hospital emergency rooms in ---atheθ poorest areas of Caracas are filled with ---aanθ victims of gunshot wounds and violent clashes.	The statement is true of all hospital emergency rooms in the poorest areas of Caracas. The noun is general. Superlative adjectives are always preceded by the definite article as they mark a noun as specific and unique in some way. In this context, victims is also a general noun. No article is necessary.
10.	---AAnThe homicide rate is up by 67% since 1999, yet ---atheθ president rarely addresses ---athean problem publicly and won ---aanthe easy third election.	Homicide rate is a definite noun as it names a specific kind of crime. President is a definite noun as a country has only one president. Problem is a definite noun as it refers to the previously mentioned homicide rate. Third makes the noun election specific. An easy election means he won his third election easily.

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