Articles/use of articles/a,an,the

 Indefinite Articles: "A" and "An"  

Used for singular, countable nouns when referring to something non-specific or mentioned for the first time.  

- "A" → Before consonant sounds.  

  Example: "I saw a dog." (any dog, not specific)  

  Example: "She has a university degree." ("university" starts with a "y" sound)  

- "An" → Before vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u).  

  Example: "He ate an apple."  

  Example: "She is an honest woman." ("honest" starts with a silent "h")  

Not used with plural or uncountable nouns:  

 Incorrect: "I need an advice." → Correct: "I need advice."  

Definite Article: "The"  

Used for specific nouns (singular, plural, or uncountable) when:  

1. The thing is already known or mentioned before.  

   Example: "I saw a cat. The cat was black."  

2. There is only one of something.  

   Example: "The sun is bright today."  

   Example: "She went to the White House."  

3. With superlatives and ordinals.  

   Example: "He is the tallest in the class."  

   Example: "This is the first time I’ve been here."  

4. With specific groups or nationalities.  

   Example: "The French are known for their cuisine."  

   Example: "She gave money to the poor."  

5. With musical instruments.  

   Example: "She plays the piano."  

Zero Article (No Article)  

Used with:  

1. Plural and uncountable nouns in general statements.  

   Example: "Cats are cute."  

   Example: "Love is beautiful."  

2. Names of most countries, cities, people, and languages.  

   Example: "She lives in Canada." (But: "She lives in the United States.")  

   Example: "They speak Spanish."  

3. Meals, sports, and academic subjects.  

   Example: "We had breakfast."  

   Example: "He plays football."  

   Example: "She studies biology."  

4. Institutions (school, prison, church) when referring to their primary purpose.  

   Example: "He goes to school." (As a student)  

   Example: "She is in prison." (As a prisoner)  

But:  

   Example: "We visited the school." (As a building)  

 Quick Comparison Table  

Article | Usage | Example  

A | First mention, consonant sound | "I need a pen."  

An | First mention, vowel sound | "She is an engineer."  

The | Specific or known thing | "Pass me the salt."  

Zero | General, plural/uncountable | "I love chocolate."  

Common Mistakes to Avoid  

1. Incorrect: "I want to go to the Paris." → Correct: "I want to go to Paris."  

2. Incorrect: "She is a best student." → Correct: "She is the best student."  

3. Incorrect: "I play the tennis." → Correct: "I play tennis."