the article "the" before qualifying phrases

The use of articles -- a, an, the -- is not arbitrary nor is it based on the personal style or preference of the writer. There are rules that tell us when a determiner (articles are a subset of determiner) must be used. The choice of which determiner, however, is up to the writer and the intended meaning.

The existence of a qualifying phrase -- whatever that is -- does not tell us whether "the" should or shouldn't be used.

A determiner must be used before all singular count nouns. A, an, the, this, that, and one are the most common determiners in this situation. A determiner -- the, these, those, many, some, et. -- may be used before plural count nouns. A determiner may be used before non-count nouns (which are always singular).

A (and an) is an indefinite article. It is used when you want to say the singular count noun is non-specific or general in nature. The definite article "the" is used when you want to refer to a specific singular count noun, a specific plural count noun, or a specific non-count noun.

Hi Jeffthanks for your answer, but it didn't convince me! You said:"The definite article "the" is used when you want to refer to a specific singular count noun, a specific plural count noun, or a specific non-count noun." So, what is the difference between examples I said? How can we understand when we use the article "the" in such situations (e.g. The meaning of a word depends on.... or meaning of a word depends on) ? According to you, we can use the article "the" before every types of words whether they be a specific singular count noun, a specific plural count noun, or a specific non-count noun. Please, if it is possible, clarify the use of the article "the" in of-phrases.(such as what I just said, that is,the use of the article "the"...).Thanks a million!