These articles in English are very important and sometimes they can be confusing. Here are some basic rules and some examples, I hope they help!

<em>The</em> definite article - Use <em>the</em> with singular and plural specific nouns.

When we use <em>the</em> in English the speaker is talking about a specific object, building, shop etc., and the listener knows exactly which one is being mentioned.

For example:

I went to <em>the</em> restaurant last night. The listener would know which restaurant the speaker went to.

Or - I went to <em>the</em> restaurant on the corner of St. James road last night. The restaurant is identified with a description of where it is.

Where are the children?

<em>The</em> children are playing in the park

We know who <em>the</em> children are, they are our children.

The indefinite articles <em>a</em> and <em>an</em> are used when talking about singular general nouns.

We use <em>a </em>and <em>an</em> when talking in general about a non specific object, building, shop etc. Specific detail is not important.

For example:

I went to <em>a </em>restaurant last night. It’s a general statement, we don’t know which one it was or where it was.

There’s <em>a </em>child playing in the park. It’s a general statement, I don’t know who the child is, it’s an observation.

<em>An</em> is used before a singular noun beginning with a vowel <em>A E I O U</em>, however words like <em>university and</em> <em>union</em> have <em>a</em> in front because of the different beginning sound.