$+Top:Is the noun <> a Common Noun (ordinary word) or a Proper Noun (referring t o the name of a person, place

or thing)? Top+CommonYesNo1:Common Noun Top+CommonYesNo2:Proper Noun CommonYesNo1+SingularPluralOrNonCount:As a Common Noun, is the word <> a Singula r Count Noun, a Plural Count Noun, or a Non-Count Noun? CommonYesNo2+Proper:Does the Proper name <> have the word 'of' in it (like: 'Que en of England' or 'Isle of Wight')? Proper+OfPhrase1:Yes, there is an 'of' phrase. Proper+OfPhrase2:No, there isn't an 'of' phrase. OfPhrase1+OfPhraseYes:Then the place name or proper name <> probably DOES take t he article 'THE'. OfPhrase2+OfPhraseNo:Then the place name or proper noun <> may not take 'the,' b ut be sure to check the choices below. CommonYesNo2+PluralLook:Does the proper noun or place name <> 'look like' a plur al: does it have a plural ending on it (like 'States')? PluralLook+PluralLookYesNo1:The noun <> ends in -s or looks plural. PluralLook+PluralLookYesNo2:The noun <> doesn't look plural. PluralLookYesNo1+PluralLookYes:Then <> may take the article 'THE,' but check fur ther below. PluralLookYesNo2+PluralLookNo:Then <> may not take the article 'the,' but check further below. CommonYesNo2+Kingdom:Does the noun <> have a word like 'kingdom,' 'republic', 'o cean,' 'sea' or 'building' in its name? Kingdom+KingdomYesNo1:Yes, there is a word like 'kingdom' or 'building' in <> . Kingdom+KingdomYesNo2:No, there isn't a word like 'kingdom' or 'building' in <> . KingdomYesNo1+KingdomYes:Then you probably DO need the article 'THE' with <> . KingdomYesNo2+KingdomNo:Then you probably do NOT need the article 'the' <> . CommonYesNo2+Short:Is the place name <> an abbreviation (like 'USA') or a shorte ned form of a longer name (like 'Pacific' for 'Pacific Ocean') that normally DOE S take 'THE'? Short+ShortYesNo1:Yes, the place name <> is an abbreviation or a shortened form of a name that takes 'THE'. Short+ShortYesNo2:No, <> isn't an abbreviation or short form, or if it is, the l onger name doesn't take 'the'. ShortYesNo1+ShortYes:Your place name <> probably takes 'THE'. ShortYesNo2+ShortNO:Your place name <> probably does NOT take 'the'. SingularPluralOrNonCount+HintsAboutTypes:(Hints..) HintsAboutTypes+WhatIsSingular:A Singular Noun is one instance of an item that c an be counted. It usually occupies a defined space (like 'ROCK') but can sometim es be abstract (like 'IDEA') HintsAboutTypes+WhatIsPlural:Plural Nouns are instances of count nouns referring to more than one ('52 ROCKS', 'several IDEAS') HintsAboutTypes+WhatIsNonCount:A Non-Count noun cannot be counted. A collection or mass, a liquid, or something abstract are examples ('FURNITURE', 'BLOOD', 'CO URAGE') SingularPluralOrNonCount+ItsWhatType:<> is a Noun that is *, (according to this program) ItsWhatType+IsItGeneric1:Is the noun <> being used to refer in a general way to any or all examples of it (like: 'A car is a necessity today')? IsItGeneric1+IsItGenericYesNo1:Yes, the noun <> is being used in a very general way, and neither the speaker nor the listener has any particular instance in min d. IsItGeneric1+IsItGenericYesNo2:No, the speaker might have a specific instance of the noun <> in mind. IsItGenericYesNo1+YesItsGeneric:You can use the article '#' for this generic mea ning with this noun <>. IsItGenericYesNo2+NoItsNotGeneric:You need to continue to see if the word <> is being used as a specific noun or not.

NoItsNotGeneric+IsItSpecificYesNo:Can the SPEAKER (or writer) reasonably assume that the listener will be easily able to guess which instance of the noun <> s/h e is referring to? IsItSpecificYesNo+ItIsReasonable1:Yes, the speaker can do this. The word <> has already been mentioned, or the speaker knows that the noun can easily be located mentally. IsItSpecificYesNo+ItIsReasonable2:No, the speaker can't be sure the listener can easily guess which instance of <> s/he is referring to. ItIsReasonable1+UseTheSpecific:Use 'THE' before this noun <> . ItIsReasonable2+DontUseTheSpecific:Most likely the speaker would not use 'the' i n this instance. He or she would use '#' before <> . ItIsReasonable1+HintFolder:(Hints..) HintFolder+HintPrepPhrase:If the noun is followed by a prepositional phrase (lik e 'AT SCHOOL', 'IN THE YARD'), that phrase may specify the noun and make it defi nite. HintFolder+HintRelClause:If the noun is followed by a clause beginning with WH-w ords (like 'WHO JUST LEFT'), that clause may specifiy the noun and make it defin ite. HintFolder+HintSurroundings:If the noun is considered by the speaker and listene r to be understood as part of their mutual surroundings (like: 'THE SUN', 'THE S KY', 'THE CAR (they both own it)), then it is easy to specify it and therefore i t is definite