THE ARTICLE IN ENGLISH: COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS, LINGUISTIC PICTURE OF THE WORLD AND TEACHING APPROACHES

This study analyzes the English article system, its communicative functions, and its role in the linguistic worldview. It explores how definite (the), indefinite (a/an), and zero articles clarify relationships between nouns and objects, structuring sentences by distinguishing between theme and rheme. Attention is given to changes in article usage with country names, such as “the Ukraine,” and common nouns like “coffee,” reflecting social and cultural shifts. Discussed the challenges faced by speakers of languages without articles when learning English and offered teaching approaches, including a bio-cognitive method that explains articles through pronouns. It provides perspectives on understanding and teaching this grammatical category.