Article Usage

[kooiu]

1. a. "A traditional male-dominated society would not accept the imposition of a quota requirement for the participation of women in an elected assembly".

1. b. "A traditional male-dominated society would not accept the imposition of a quota requirement for the participation of women in elections".

I am not sure why article "the" instead of zero article was used before "participation" since the participation implied is not about a woman but women. Why is participation is unique in these two sentences?

2. Why "the" in the following phrases: the process of education, the idea of a book, the expansion of a city, the division of labor? Is it because the nouns before which they appear are attribute-nouns, or because the noun that "the" premodifies can only be attributed to a one single noun that is the object of "of phrase"?

I need your help.

Thank you.

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by kooiu

1. a. "A traditional male-dominated society would not accept the imposition of a quota requirement for the participation of women in an elected assembly".

1. b. "A traditional male-dominated society would not accept the imposition of a quota requirement for the participation of women in elections".

I am not sure why article "the" instead of zero article was used before "participation" since the participation implied is not about a woman but women. Why is participation is unique in these two sentences?

2. Why "the" in the following phrases: the process of education, the idea of a book, the expansion of a city, the division of labor? Is it because the nouns before which they appear are attribute-nouns, or because the noun that "the" premodifies can only be attributed to a one single noun that is the object of "of phrase"?

I need your help.

Thank you.

The definite article in all these cases applies to the object, not the genitive of the sentence.

[kooiu]

Thank you Coffa. But I want to know what rule(s) support the use or non-use of article "the" in the sentences

[Casiopea]

Welcome, kooiu.

Here's a great source: "Five Sources of Definiteness". Scroll down to LEARNING HINT #4 and also check out the Answers and Explanations to the Exercises.

All the best.

[kooiu]

Dear Coffa,
You are highly intelligent. Your input is very useful. However, I would like you to explain why "the" before "participation" in 1a given that it is intended for more than one woman.

I must say that you have greatly helped me. Thank you.

[RonBee]

It's "the participation of a woman" or "the participation of women". It doesn't matter whether woman is plural or not.

[kooiu]

Thank you all for your help.

[Casiopea]

You're most welcome, kooiu.