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The definite article

The basic rules:
Basically, the rules are quite simple:
*  The definite article shows that a noun is being used in a "defined" or restricted context.
*  When a noun is used in a non-defined or "generalizing" context, a definite article is not needed.

Two sorts of noun.

Use of the definite article therefore depends on the nature or type of noun that is being used.
As in other languages, nouns in English can be divided into two distinct categories, called:
 count nouns and non-count nouns.
* Count nouns are nouns referring to items that can be counted, for example:
 One car, two pencils, three people, four guitarists, five hotels etc.
Count nouns can be used in the plural.

* Non-count nouns are nouns referring to abstractions, substances or generalizations, for example:
 Oxygen, health, money, heat, astronomy
Non-count nouns can NOT usually be used in the plural.

* Some nouns can be used either in a "count" context, or in a "non-count" context. This is particularly true with plural uses of count nouns.

Compare:
Count forms:Look at the birds in that tree.
 The books you gave me yesterday are interesting
 The men left the women in the bus.
In each of these cases, the plural nouns refer to clearly defined groups of birds, books, men or women, not to generalizations.

Non-count forms:Birds can fly
 Books are printed on paper.
 Men and women sometimes have different ideas.
In each of these cases, the plural nouns refer to generalizations, i.e. all birds, books, men or women

Some singular nouns can also have defined and non defined uses: for example:
 I like whisky, but I don't like the whisky you bought.
 Air is essential for humans, but the air in this city is polluted.
In both of these examples, the same noun is first used as a generalization, then used in a defined context.

Thus, we can draw a few simple but precise guidelines:

Count-nouns in the singular must have an article (or other determiner).
 The boy, the cat, the pencil, (a cat, this cat, etc.)
Non-count nouns in the singular (abstractions etc.) only require an article if they are being used restrictively:
 The music of Bach....
Count nouns in the plural have an article when referring to defined cases, no article when implying generalisations.
Plural forms of non-count nouns do not usually exist.

THE BIG QUESTION:
Sometimes it is not easy to decide if a plural noun is being used as a generalization, or in a restrictive context: often the speaker or writer can choose. Look at these two sentences:
 a) London buses are red
 b) The London buses are red.
In example (a), the writer is clearly implying a generalisation on the noun group "London buses": All London buses are red.
In example (b), he is referring to a restricted or defined category of the noun "buses",  London buses are red, but other buses may be of other colours.
In cases like these, one therefore has a choice; but the choice is not always completely free, as it often depends on context. Is it more important or more logical to imply a generalization, or a limitation? 
Deciding whether it is best to use an article in such cases is a skill that has to be mastered!

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