"The," a tricky article

[rada]

Dear teachers,
First, thank you very much for your corrections. I'm really grateful to you. Here is a problem I'm vainly struggling with: Despite my vigilance, I still can't disclose the trick in the use of the article "the." Below are some confusing examples:

1- Intelligence is a process still not well known by scientists. (We don't use "the" before the word "intelligence.")
2- The achievements of mankind. (We don't use "the" before the word "mankind.")
3- The will of men which goes into the depths of the time. (We do use "the" before "time.")
4- I like imagine myself travelling through time. (We don't use "the" before the word "time.")

Is there any rule or trick, or is it a matter of feeling and intensive reading?

Thank you very much.

[Rusty]

Here's a trick that I think will help you.
If you can use "all" instead of "the" and the sentence has the right meaning, then you can drop "the" before a noun.
1- Intelligence is a process still not well known by scientists.
All intelligence is a process....= Intelligence is a process...
2- The achievements of mankind.
The achievements of all mankind...= The achievements of mankind..
3- The will of men which goes into the depths of the time.
The depths of all time...= the depths of time.
4- I like imagine myself travelling through time.
...travelling through all time = ..travelling through time.

[rada]

Hi Rusty,
Thank you for your help, but I'm afraid I'm not familiar yet with the use of "all" before an uncountable word such as in the examples below:

1- All intelligence is ...
2- ...travelling through all time...

I'll be grateful if you can explain me this "unfamiliar" use of "all".
The following sites give some explanations on:

Distributives All, Both, Half: http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/Determiners11a.cfm
And articles (when not to use "the"): http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/DETERMINERS4.cfm

I don't know whether you agree with them.

Thanks a lot for your time in advance.
rada

[Rusty]

Hello Rada:
I'm sorry my "trick" was not useful. Let's go back to your original problem: the use of or omission of articles with countable and non-countable nouns. (Non-countable nouns are also called uncountable or mass nouns). There are many rules and exceptions to the rules. Here is a very good Website: http://www.law.cuny.edu/wc/multilingual/articles.html
There is a list of exceptions at: http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/DETERMINERS4.cfm

This Website (below) applies to your questions about intelligence, mankind, time.

https://mit.imoat.net/handbook/uncounta.htm
"Uncountable (mass) nouns refer to substances, concepts, or general terms for classes of items. The following words are uncountable nouns: oxygen (substance), education (concept), equipment (general term).
Do not use an article with an uncountable noun if you are referring to the noun in a general sense."

[rada]

Hello Rusty:

Now, I feel more comfortable with the issue. The last Website reference is a mine of useful and valuable information. Thank you again for your precious and kind help.

Rada