Golden rules for articles. (page 26)

THE = el, la, los, las, lo.

· DON’T use THE with Proper names, Countries, etc.

the Tom / the Mary / the Rome

* You CAN use THE with NATIONALITIES.

The Mexicans / The Romans / The Canadians

· You CAN’T use THE with the words CHURCH, SCHOOL, HOME when they are used as an INSTITUTION.

We are going to church.
They are going to school.
I’m going home.

· You CAN use THE with the words CHURCH, SCHOOL, HOME when they are used as a BUILDING

We are going to fix the church.
They are going to paint the school.
I’m going to the Home. (rest home)

NEVER use TO with the words HOME and DOWN TOWN.

I’m going downtown. (not: I’m going to downtown)

I’m going home. (not: I’m going to home.)

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Articles a / an with or without “h”.

“a” before words beginning with a consonant sound.

a table
a man
a big city
a University = (yuniversity)

“an” before words beginning with a vowel sound.

an apple
an orange
an apostle
an hour. (our)

“a” before “h” when “h” is pronounced like “j”

a hole (jo)
a Hebrew (ji)
a hug (ja)
a hammer (ja)
a house (ja)
a hymn (ji)

“an” before “h” when “h” is silent.

an honest man (o)
an heir (e)
an hour (a)

The articles “a” / “an” are SINGULAR words,
do not use them with plural nouns.