Specifically the and a/an.

Most of us can easily state when to use the as opposed to a/an and, with the exception of use with words like history/historical we can explain when to use a and when to use an, but can we explain when to use either one as opposed to using neither? Why, for example, do we say, "cross the street" rather than saying "cross street"?

I just want to open this for discussion. I know that usage varies from language to language. In English, if we want a second beer after having finished the first we ask for another beer. In Spanish, in the same situation, we ask for, literally translated other beer. Even in English, Rhuby might talk about having been in hospital when I would have said in the hospital.

All contributions gratefully accepted. Or is that all the contributions gratefully accepted?