In English, articles are used"the"The rules are relatively complex, but here are some general guidelines, with exceptions:
The only thing or person that is specifically referred to:
the sun is shining."
i met the president."
Things or people that have already been mentioned in context:
i h**e a cat. the cat is very playful."
Specific geographies:
i visited the grand canyon."
she lives in the united states."
When it comes to expressing the only thing like a musical instrument, a newspaper, a movie, a boat, etc.:
he plays the piano."
i read the new york times."
Idioms and fixed phrases:
in the end, it's worth the wait."
by the way, h**e you seen the news?"
A concept or thing that refers to in general:
dogs are loyal animals."
i need a pen."
General activities or concepts:
she likes to play sports."
education is important."
When a compound adjective or uncountable noun is used before a noun:
he has beautiful blue eyes."
i need some advice."
The article is not used before a person's name, unless it refers to the whole family:
i talked to john yesterday."
the smiths are coming over for dinner."
The article is generally not preceded by a country noun, but there are exceptions:
i live in canada."
the united kingdom is an island nation."
There are some special cases involving the use of articles that need to be judged according to the specific context and concepts. Here are some special cases:
1.Idioms and fixed phrases:
Examples:"by the way," "in the end," "on the other hand."
In idioms and certain fixed phrases, the use of articles may not be the same as the literal meaning.
Place names such as supermarkets, shops, etc
Examples:"i'm going to walmart."
Generally, articles are not used to refer to store names or supermarket names.
The name of the restaurant used to indicate three meals a day:
Examples:"let's go to olive garden for lunch."
Restaurants usually don't have an article before their name.
Disciplines and Sports:
Examples:"i like playing soccer."
Examples:"i'm studying chemistry." vs. "i h**e a love for the chemistry of cooking."
Disciplines don't usually use articles, but they can be used when denoting a general interest.
The article is not usually used in sports.
Meals, Seasons, Colors:
Examples:"breakfast is the most important meal of the day." vs. "i like the color blue."
Articles are not usually used to refer to meals, seasons, or colors.
Tableware & Furniture:
Examples:"i need a fork." vs. "wood is a common material for tables."
When discussing general concepts, articles are not usually used.
Name of Institution:
Examples:"harvard university" vs. "the university of oxford."
Most of the time, articles are not used to refer to the name of the institution.
Before proper nouns and personal names:
Examples:"mount everest" vs. "the himalayas."
In general, articles are not used to refer to proper nouns and personal names.
These are some of the common special cases, but there may still be exceptions in specific contexts. For these cases, the best way to do this is to judge based on the habits of language use and the specific context.