articles

They are in fact placed in the text randomly! The only 2 rules that always apply - 1) they should be in front of a noun, not after. And 2) "a" and "an" are for singular nouns only. These are the main rules. Everything else is random. Totally random!

I met with a former professor of English during my Thanksgiving trip. She tough me a lot 4 years ago. Thank her so much for everything!
At some point in our conversation I told her about my problems with articles and she said that articles are used differently in British English and American English! As a student I've learned British English that is why I cannot say "I'm going to the University", I would never use article there. Maybe that's a part of my problem?
Well, I always though that grammar is the same in both English languages. I was so wrong. Now the whole issue with articles does not make any sense to me.
Isn't it like fashion or custom? People got used to something in a certain way and stick with it for their life. And if you not a part of a community you would never get why they all do it this way and not the other. In case with articles whole nations stuck to certain ways. If that's it, then it is totally random to me. I'm even more confused about articles now.

I WANT THE CUP OF A COFFEE - and I don't care if doesn't make any sense... and I don't drink coffee anyway.

Seems that getting the rules about articles is more difficult that I though. (if randomness could ever be determined by rules...)