Both the writer and reader recognize that the noun has a specific reference (is unique). The necessary information to identify the noun’s reference can come from the text itself, context, or general knowledge. You can test this by asking yourself: which [noun]? If the question is illogical, then use the.

• Example: Kingston was raised in the Chinese immigrant community of Stockton, CA. (The rest of the sentence gives identifiable information about the community that makes it unique. This sentence is possible if there’s only one Chinese immigrant community in Stockton. Using the test above, the question: which Chinese immigrant community in Stockton, CA? does not make sense if there is only one.)

Previous mentions in the text can make a noun specific.

• Example: In 1870, the bicycle developed a large front wheel. The front wheel, compared to the back wheel, was much bigger in size.

Adjectives can make a noun one-of-a-kind.

• Example: The Wright brothers invented the first airplanes.

Use the if the noun is part of an of-prepositional phrase that shows quantity. Possessives (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) function similarly to the.

• Example: one of the greatest poets; most of my friends; some of the water
• A countable noun in these phrases will always be plural; an uncountable noun will always be singular.

Neither the writer nor the reader identify the noun as something known, unique, or familiar OR the noun’s reference is non-specific (general). You can test this by asking yourself: which [noun]? If the question is logical, then use a/an.

• Example: Kingston was raised in a Chinese immigrant community in California. (This sentence is possible if many Chinese immigrant communities exist in California, but the writer is not specific about which one. Using the test above, the question: which Chinese immigrant community in California? makes sense because there is more than one)

A general noun indicates membership in a group.

• Example: I am a first-year student at UC Davis. (You are a specific student, but part of the general category of first-year students.)

A general noun is used as a definition.

• Example: Davis is a city in Yolo County. (Davis is a specific city, but the word "city" is used in a general sense because several cities are in Yolo County and Davis is one of them.)

You can count the noun. The noun has a singular and plural form (perhaps irregular).

• Example: one bike; two bikes
• Example: a mouse; several mice

Some countable nouns occur only in their plural form.

• Example: clothes, jeans, pajamas

You can’t count the noun.

• Example: * one rice; * two rices (these phrases are ungrammatical)

These nouns often are in the following categories:

• Liquids/gases: water, air, oil, oxygen, blood, milk, rain
• A substance made up of small particles: sand, sugar, salt, coffee, hair
• Subjects of study: biology, economics, psychology, physics
• Abstract concepts: advice, education, happiness, information, knowledge, success, luck, intelligence
• A collection: research, writing, equipment, furniture, garbage, homework, luggage, jewelry, money, traffic, transportation, evidence

• Example: paper, change, work, light, difficulty, food, fruit

To describe a concept, use the uncountable form; to describe a particular noun, use the countable form.

• Example: Change is difficult for many people to get used to. (general concept of change)
• Example: There have been many changes in my life that have been difficult. (many specific changes)

If you're not sure, check a dictionary to see which meaning yours resembles.

Generally, no article (Ø) is used before singular names of countries, continents, states, lakes, parks, individual mountains, cities, streets, universities, and months/days of the week. It is not always clear, so you can check online to see if the is a part of the official name.

• Example: I attend Ø UC Davis.
• Example: Engelstein viewed Ø Russia as unique and distinct, and not in the same unit as the rest of Ø Europe.

UNLESS the proper noun includes an of-phrase.

• Example: I attend the University of California, Davis.

The is used with oceans, rivers, deserts, bridges, geographic areas, public buildings, and periods/events in history.

• Example: The Memorial Union has good food.
• Example: I have gotten an understanding of how society’s beliefs have evolved from the 18th to the 21st century.

The is used for plural names of lakes, mountain ranges, nationalities, countries, and countries that include the words United, Union, or Republic of.

• Example: I study abroad in the U.S. while my family still lives in Ø China.

This chart categorizes determiners based on whether the noun is (1) specific or general, (2) singular or plural, and (3) count or non-count:

• Example: The climbing team organizes excursions every other week. NOT *The climbing team organizes excursions every other weeks.
• Example: He argued that there was too much repression. NOT *He argued that there was too many repressions.