In English grammar, articles are words like "a," "an," and "the" that precede and modify nouns. They are a type of determiner, indicating whether a noun is specific or general. "The" is the definite article, used for specific nouns, while "a" and "an" are indefinite articles, used for general or non-specific nouns. Here's a more detailed breakdown:Types of Articles:

• Definite Article ("the"):Used to refer to a specific noun that is known to the listener or reader, or when there is only one of something. 
  • Example: "The dog is barking." (referring to a specific dog) 
• Indefinite Articles ("a" and "an"):Used to refer to a general noun or a noun that is being introduced for the first time. 
  • "a" is used before nouns that begin with a consonant sound (e.g., "a cat"). 
  • "an" is used before nouns that begin with a vowel sound (e.g., "an apple"). 

Examples: