use of a, an, the & zero article

[Fame]

Can you please help check the following ?

De Gaulle wanted to take France out of both NATO and (1) the
Common Market. He succeeded only with (2) the former. First he
demanded (3) a triumvirate leadership for NATO of Britain, France
and the United States; when (4) the Americans rejected this he began
withdrawing (5) French forces. In 1967 he invited NATO to remove
itself altogether from (6) French soil.

1. definite reference, the indicates a cataphoric reference
2. definite reference, the indicates a cataphoric reference
3. first mention of an uncountable noun, indefinite sense with a
4. specific unique reference, definite sense with the
5. zero article, specific reference to a plural countable noun
6. zero article conveying specific unique reference

[Raymott]

Can you please help check the following ?

De Gaulle wanted to take France out of both NATO and (1) the
Common Market. He succeeded only with (2) the former. First he
demanded (3) a triumvirate leadership for NATO of Britain, France
and the United States; when (4) the Americans rejected this he began
withdrawing (5) French forces. In 1967 he invited NATO to remove
itself altogether from (6) French soil.

1. definite reference, the indicates a cataphoric reference
2. definite reference, the indicates a cataphoric reference
3. first mention of an uncountable noun, indefinite sense with a
4. specific unique reference, definite sense with the
5. zero article, specific reference to a plural countable noun
6. zero article conveying specific unique reference

Hi Fame,
I agree with all choices; and with reasons 1 - 4.

5. French forces is not a plural countable noun. But let's assume it read "French soldiers" (which is a plural countable noun). The answer would be the same (zero article). The reason must be different.
6. "French soil" means "French territory" (it's a metonomy). And thus it means "France", which doesn't take an article.

I don't know the system you're using, so I can't give reasons for why 5, 6 are wrong. But your answers are right; and you reasons seem wrong.

[Fame]

Hi Fame,
I agree with all choices; and with reasons 1 - 4.

5. French forces is not a plural countable noun. But let's assume it read "French soldiers" (which is a plural countable noun). The answer would be the same (zero article). The reason must be different.
6. "French soil" means "French territory" (it's a metonomy). And thus it means "France", which doesn't take an article.

I don't know the system you're using, so I can't give reasons for why 5, 6 are wrong. But your answers are right; and you reasons seem wrong.

Dear Raymott,
Thanks for your reply. As for reasons for 5 and 6, I'm not quite sure. In 5, I thought "French forces" meant all the different kind of forces, whether land, air or sky, etc. Thus I count it as plural, but what's the reason, then? In 6, I know that "French soil" means "French territory" but how would you give a reason for using zero article?

[Raymott]

Dear Raymott,
Thanks for your reply. As for reasons for 5 and 6, I'm not quite sure. In 5, I thought "French forces" meant all the different kind of forces, whether land, air or sky, etc. Thus I count it as plural, but what's the reason, then? In 6, I know that "French soil" means "French territory" but how would you give a reason for using zero article?

You must have a list of "reasons for using the zero article". I don't have that list. I can give you a reason (as I have for 6), but unless you post your list of possible reasons for the zero article, I can't answer the question with the answer you want.