Articles are absolutely helpful in English language. Unlike many languages English uses articles much much more than other languages. French uses articles more than of the English.
The articles are a three words in written and spoken English. However, in there are only two articles which are definite and indefinite articles. The is definite article, while and an indefinite articles. English uses two indefinite articles which one meaning.
As explained above a and an indefinite articles, but they're used in different ways. A is used with the names that begin with consonant sounds. An is used with the names that begin with vowel sounds. The is used with the names that begin with both consonant and vowel sounds with the definite means.
Examples:
a cat, an owl, the lion
a car, an ink, the leopard
a man, an apple, the elephant
a woman, an orange, the book.
How to use a, an and the.
Indefinite articles are used with objects which are not specific, or one thing in a several things have similar type.
Examples:
I don't need a pencil today.
He needs a taxi to go to a store.
She wants to buy an expensive car.
You can't eat an apple.
Musa is visiting a friend tommorow.
In the above examples a pencil, a taxi, a store, an expensive car, an apple and a friend are all indefinite articles.
Indefinite articles are used with noun to give the meaning of singular or one thing.
Examples:
Kabiru has a computer.
Aliyu visits a city next week.
I want to a basket of eggs.
She doesn't want to a tour.
You don't have a plate of cake.
Here a computer, a city, a basket of eggs, a tour and a plate of cake each take the meaning of one thing.
Indefinite articles are used when mention an object at first time in written or spoken English.
Examples:
I met a friend last night.
You can write a letter to me.
He has a hen in his village.
Sadiq is cooking a pasta
She consumes a tin of milk.
Indefinite articles are used to indicate one thing or person of a group.
Examples:
Salisu is a pianist.
Fatima is a student.
He is a mechanic.
I am a plumber.
You are a writer.
Definite article is used with specific nouns which reader or listener already knows.
Examples:
The book I want to read is essential.
I am excited to watch the movie.
She is visiting the museum tomorrow.
Musa huntered the fox.
You liked the story I had told to you.
Definite article is used with plural countries. Plural countries are those countries formed with different regions, states and islands.
Examples:
I want to study in the Philippines.
She lives in the Britain
He work in the United States.
You're going to Netherlands next year.
I have a friend in the Bahamas.
Definite article is used with some instruments.
I play the saxophone at nights.
We play violin on our holiday.
She plays the flute at the party.
He doesn't play the piano.
Musa beat the drums at the concert.
Definite article is used with desert.
The Sahara desert lies in West Africa.
Definite article is used with seas and oceans.
The Pacific is absolutely massive water.
The Mediterranean Sea lies between africa and Europe.
Definite article is used with mountain ranges.
The Himalayans lies between China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet.
The Alps lies between France, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein and so on.
Definite article is used when mentioning the object at second time that means when you see definite article with a name it's already mentioned before.
Examples:
The hen has in his village is cute.
The friend I met last night was Isah.
You can write the letter to the lecture.
The tin of milk she consumes weighs 1kg.
The pasta cooked by Sadik was delicious.
Definite article is used to describe the group of people or society.
Examples:
The rich can feed the poor.
Bill Gates donated to the poor.
The beauty don't love bad guys.
When not to used articles.
English doesn't use article when describing non-specific things in plural.
Strikers scoring most of the goals in matches.
Guitars please people and make them happy.
English doesn't use article to talk about things in general.
Although sushis are spicy, they are good.
Guys purchase expensive clothes to partys.
English doesn't use article for most singular country.
I want to visit the Turkey is wrong.
I want to visit Turkey.
English doesn't use article with island.
I will visit the Jamaica is wrong.
I will visit Jamaica is correct.
English doesn't use article with lakes.
The river Nile is wrong.
The correct is river Nile.
