Articles

There are two types of articles: Indefinite (a, an) and Definite (the)

Use of indefinite articles (a or an)

A: Before a countable noun beginning with a consonant sound, 'a' is used: a cow, a desk   a house

Words to remember

a one eyed man, a university boy, a useful book, a ewe, a union, a European, a unique      creature, a unicorn

An:Before a countable noun beginning with a vowel sound, 'an' is used an elephant ,an umbrella, an aeroplane,   an orange, an applicant 

Words to remember

an hour, an honest man, an MA, an MP, an MBBS, an HA, an FM, an LLM, an MD, an NGO, an MBA, an heir

Note: 'a' or 'an' is not used before: uncountable nouns (sugar, water) plural nouns (apples, cattle, people) Proper noun (Kathmandu, Sarita, India)

The: Definite article 'the' is used in the following cases.

Before the names of things which are unique and only one;the earth,the sky the universe, the moon, the great wall, the Jupiter

When something is mentioned second time:He is wearing a hat. The hat is made in Japan. 

Before superlative degree:

Mt. Everest is the highest peak in the world. 

Which is the coldest place in Nepal?

She is the most beautiful of all in the school

Before ordinal numbers: the first, the second,the fifth etc. 

Before name of musical instruments: the guitar, the flute, the madal

Before names of river, seas and oceans:the Nile, the Red Sea, the Pacific Ocean

Before names of groups of island:
the British Isles, the West Indies

Before names of mountain ranges: the Himalayas, the Alps

Before plural names of countries: the Netherlands, the Philippines, the UK, the USA 

Before names of canals: the Suez canal, the Gandak canal

Before names of deserts
the Sahara,the Thar

Before names of Newspapers:the Kathmandu Post ,the Washington Post

Before a period of decades: the fifties, the sixties, the eighties

Before names of directions and poles: the south ,the north pole ,the east

Before names of periods of history: the modern Age, the stone Age, the Victorian age

Before family names and castes: the Rana, the Gurung, the Brahmin

Before names of holy books: the Ramayana ,the Bible, the Kuran

Before names of nationalities/religious/ races/ positions or posts the Chinese, the Hindus, the Black ,the Prime Minister

Before a noun modified by a 'phrase' or 'clause': The boy, who is in a black coat, is a university student. I like the pen which is made in Nepal.

Before a singular noun/ adjective that represents a particular class, The old must be looked after. The tiger eats flesh.

Before special meals,

The birthday party, the wedding anniversary party

But not before ordinary meals like dinner, lunch, supper, breakfast. Before parts of day

the morning, the afternoon, the evening

But not before: noon, midnight, down, dusk

Before names of ships and aeroplanes

the Mary Celeste,           the Titanic, the Buddha Air

Before names of hotels, restaurants, theaters, cinemas, clubs the   Soaltee, the Guna Cinema,

the Lion's Club, the Rastriya Nach Ghar

Before names of scientific innovations

the telephone, the television, the computer

Some other examples

Pokhara is known as the Cherapunji of Nepal. The sooner, the better

The more you work hard, the more you earn.

Some of / a few of / most of the students passed the exam.

Omission of 'The'

Before the names of metal

Iron is a useful metal

Gold is an expensive metal.

Before abstract nouns used in general sense wisdom, honesty, beauty, death

But when abstract nouns are qualified by an adjective or an adjectival phrase or clause, they may have the article,

The wisdom of Solomon is famous. Before language,

They are learning Japanese. I love English.

Before school, college, church, bed, hospital, market, home, prison, when these places are used for their primary purpose:

I go to temple every day.

He usually goes to bed at 10 pm. We learnt English at school

Before the names of days, months, seasons Saturday is the holiday in Nepal. January is the first month of the year.

Before the names of diseases, games, colors and before possessive pronouns.

He died of AIDs.

Cricket is a popular game. My favorite colour is white. I like his hair style.