>>Sergey
>>
>>If we say "Have you got a match?" then one would search in the match box for one. But, if we said "Have you got THE match?" one would think there was a particular special match (maybe one inlaid in gold?). SO the definite article "the" refers to a particular item (If I'd said "the particular item" you'd have thought which item is he talking of?). So, in Russian, you'd say "have you got match" which, naturally, you'd think is the 1st case. If you wanted to say "Have you got that special match, inlaid in gold, that I gave to you earlier", you'd have to say "Have you got THAT match". So it's more or less the same thing.
>>
>>Does this make sense? :-)
>>
>It makes sense, of course, but I think, that's not enough for the whole picture. It's more or less clear in the singular case, but what should we use for the (?) plural case? And when it's ok to omit an article and when it is required? Would you please expand this lesson? < g >

Ah, in the plural, "a" becomes "some" (or nothing) and "the" stays the same.

e.g. "I read a book on holiday" -> "I read some books on holiday".
But if you said, "I read books on holiday" it might suggest that that was ALL you did! :-)

e.g. "I read the book you loaned me" -> "I read the books you loaned me"