Let’s take a look at how we use articles in English
A/An
•First time we mention something 👉 I saw an old woman and a dog in the park
•Jobs 👉 Paula is a teacher
•To mean “Each” or “per” 👉 Paul goes to the gym three times a week
The
•Something mentioned before 👉 I saw a man and a dog. The man was old
•Specific things 👉 The children in the garden are making a lot of noise
•Only one thing 👉 The moon looks beautiful today
•Plural places 👉 The United States have a lot of immigrants
•Superlatives 👉 He is the best student in the class
•Musical instruments 👉 My daughter plays the violin
•Social Groups 👉 The poor should get some help from the government (los pobres…)
•Mountain ranges 👉 The Alps are amazing all year round
•Rivers / Oceans / Seas 👉 The Amazon is a very long river
No article
•General meaning 👉 I don’t like children (children in general)
•Abstract nouns 👉 Love is the most importan thing in life
•Mountain peaks 👉 Mount Everest is the most beautiful mountain in the world
•Meals 👉 What time do you have breakfast?
•Years, months, days 👉 2005 was a great year
•TV 👉 There’s a good film on TV
•Languages, school subjects 👉 He doesn’t speak English. I study biology
•Next, last 👉 We went to the theater last week