Having delved into the rules of the grammar of the English language, you can get the answer that the article is usually understood as the service part of speech, which can be used only with nouns.
In this language, there are three types of articles: definite (known as the), indefinite (represented by two a / an forms at once) and zero, implying a complete and completely justified absence of this part of speech.
The use of articles in English may depend on several factors that accompany it. Firstly, from the type of noun, secondly, from the context, and thirdly, do not forget about the many exceptions inherent in this language.
General rules for the use of articles in English
This topic, it must be said, is quite extensive and difficult to remember, but in order not to be mistaken with the choice of article from the very beginning, I would recommend doing the following:
- Determine whether a given noun, on which the required article depends, names the subject as a whole, without distinguishing it from a series of similar ones, or does it indicate a specific subject.
For instance:
I bought a very interesting book yesterday. - I bought a very interesting book yesterday. (In this proposal, it is understood that the purchase consisted of a book, not a notebook, not a magazine, not a newspaper, namely a book).
The book I bought yesterday is interesting indeed. “The book I bought yesterday is actually interesting.” (Here the word “book” is concretized and we, as readers, know exactly which edition is in question in this sentence).
- Establish whether a noun is countable or uncountable.
For example: a book (book), a trip (trip, trip), a mate (buddy) - countable;
furniture (furniture), friendship (friendship), health (health), love (love) - uncountable.
- Recognize the singular or plural form of a noun;
For example: a book - book (in the singular), books - books (in the plural).
The use of articles in English. Indefinite article
One variant of the indefinite article "a" or "an" is used if:
- the subject or person that will be discussed later is mentioned in this context for the first time;
- with countable nouns used in the singular form, after a special turn there is (in any temporary form). It is this phrase that is capable of introducing a previously unknown subject into the text;
- in front of the predicate noun, thus relating the noun to a certain class of like ones. For example: Kiev is a cosmopolitan city. - Kiev is an interethnic city;
- after what (in exclamatory sentences), such, quite, rather. But do not forget that in this case, the noun must be in the singular and be countable. For example: My neighbor is quite a child. - My neighbor is still a child;
- sometimes he retains his original translation of "one";
- in the meanings of "everyone," "any."
- in phrases go for a walk - go for a walk, be in a hurry - hurry, for a long time - for a long time, have a look - take a look.
3. The use of articles in English. Definite article
"The" is used in the following situations:
- in the event that both the speaker and the listener know what kind of subject, person or concept is being discussed;
- describes all members of the same family. For example: the Ivanovs - Ivanovs;
- with titles or representatives of ethnic groups. For example: the Governor - the governor, the Ukrainians - Ukrainians;
- with countries whose names originally include the plural. For example: the USA - USA, the OAE - UAE;
- with groups of mountains, mountain systems, islands, lakes. For example: the Carpathians - Carpathians, the Great Lakes - Great Lakes;
- with unique concepts, and this exclusivity can manifest itself as a whole (for example, the Moon - the moon’s satellite), and within, say, a certain office or educational institution (for example: the Rector - rector, the Chief Manager - main manager);
- with the names of the desert, seas, rivers, oceans and canals. For example: the Danube - Danube River, the Atlantic Ocean - Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean - Mediterranean Sea, the Panama canal - Panama Canal;
- with famous buildings, ship names and zoos. For example: the Titanic - "Titanic", the Houses of Parliament - Parliament Buildings, the San Diego Zoo - San Diego Zoo;
- at the mention of wars, newspaper names and historical documents. For example: the Crimean War - Crimean War, the Times - The Times newspaper, the Constitution - The Constitution.
The use of articles in English. Zero article
As a rule, the article before nouns of a given language should be used. Cases in which it is omitted are rare and should be carefully justified.
So, in English the article is absent in the following cases:
- before the names. For example, Sophia Rotaru - Sofia Rotaru;
- in combination title + name. For example, Queen Elizabeth is Queen Elizabeth;
- in front of the names of beaches, cities, states, countries and continents. For example: Kiev - Kiev, Ohio - the American state of Ohio, Mexico - Mexico, South and North America –continents of South and North America;
- with separately located mountains, islands, lakes. For example, Everest - Mount Everest;
- at the mention of planets and constellations. For example: Venus - the planet Venus, Mars - the planet Mars;
- with streets, boulevards and parks. For example, Wall Street, Madison Avenue, Hyde Park;
- with tongues and diseases. For example, Chinese is Chinese;
- with the names of magazines and school subjects. For example: History - history, Math - mathematics.
As you yourself could see, the correct use of articles in English does not depend on the ability of a person to languages. This is exactly the rule that cannot be understood and realized, you have to learn by heart. And only after giving this process a sufficient amount of time, you can finally learn how to correctly use all three articles of the English language: definite, indefinite and zero.