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Definition of articles  

English has two types of articles: definite (the) and indefinite (a, an.)
The use of these articles depends mainly on whether you are referring to any member of a group,
or to a specific member of a group:

 1. Indefinite Articles: a and an  

A and an signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group.
These indefinite articles are used with singular nouns when the noun is general;
the corresponding indefinite quantity word some is used for plural general nouns. The rule is:

• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy
• an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used)
• some + plural noun: some girls

If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on
the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article:

• a broken egg
• an unusual problem
• a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)

Note also that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership
 in a profession, nation, or religion.

• I am a teacher.
• Brian is an Irishman.
• Seiko is a practicing Buddhist.

2. Definite Article: the

Definite articles are used for those things which are easily identified and specific.

The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is particular or specific.
The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group.
Compare the indefinite and definite articles in the following examples:

	Indefinite (a or an)	Definite (the)
Singular	a dog (any dog) an apple (any apple)	the dog (that specific dog) the apple (that specific apple)
Plural	some dogs (any dogs) some apples (any apples)	the dogs (those specific dogs) the apples (those specific apples)