can we use article before the comman noun

it depands on situation. for examples:- Water is very useful to live. the water is dirty. when we use articles before common noun, its meaning changed. water:- water to drink the water :- place where water is stored like ponds, river, well, handpump

Yes! You can but articles "a/an" can only be used before a singular countable noun. But article "the" can be used before both singular countable noun and plural countable noun.