Definite Article

[Tarheel]

There is quite a bit on the forum about article usage. The question has been asked and answered many times.

[vpriest]

I'm not surprised. I don't think you'll find much on this, not outside of dense academic literature, at least. I hope I'm wrong, of course, and if I am, please let us know!

so I would look for zero article (generalization)?

[Charlie Bernstein]

So should I look for zero article (generalization)?

You should certainly try. But I'm sure it's obvious to you that this is a gray area. In your examples, articles are optional.

This is probably a question that requires several more years of just listening to how native English speakers talk.

[vpriest]

I am not here for speaking. I am here purely for grammar/formal/academic writing. So I am trying to find rules that explain different cases so I understand better and not forget.

[emsr2d2]

It doesn't matter that you don't want to improve your spoken English. Reading how native speakers write, and listening to how they speak, remain the best ways of getting to grips with it. However, as Charlie said, it's not a quick process. It can, and probably will, take years to really get to grips with it.

[jutfrank]

so I would look for zero article (generalization)?

Yes. You'll find plenty of practice resources on this topic, but not much explaining the semantics in depth.