WHAT IS ‘A’ / ‘AN’?
When you say “Give me a pen please”, you can get a red pen, a black pen, or a pink pen, because the word ‘a’ means ‘any pen’.
1. ‘A’ or ‘an’ must come before nouns (or an adj that comes before the noun).
2. If the noun is countable.
3. When the noun is singular (one thing).
4. The noun is general, not specific. (= any …)
2. If the noun is countable.
3. When the noun is singular (one thing).
4. The noun is general, not specific. (= any …)
WHEN TO USE ‘A’ AND WHEN TO USE ‘AN’?
1. Use “a” before a noun that begins with a consonant sound.
2. Use “an” before a noun that begins with a vowel sound.
Examples:
I will see you in an hour. The letter “h” is silent, so it sounds like “o”.
When the ‘u’ sounds like ‘y’, use “a” for example “I have a used book.”
2. Use “an” before a noun that begins with a vowel sound.
Examples:
I will see you in an hour. The letter “h” is silent, so it sounds like “o”.
When the ‘u’ sounds like ‘y’, use “a” for example “I have a used book.”
WHEN TO USE ‘THE’
1. It comes before nouns (or before adjectives that come before the noun).
2. The reader/listener knows exactly which noun is referred to.
3. The noun can be singular (one) or plural (many).
2. The reader/listener knows exactly which noun is referred to.
3. The noun can be singular (one) or plural (many).
Example: I saw a cat yesterday. (We don’t know anything about the cat).
The cat was white.
(This cat was already referred to in the sentence before, so we know which cat.)
Exercise: Add ‘a’ / ‘an’ / ‘the’ ONLY where necessary.
1. My uncle has _____ cat. _____ cat has black fur. I don’t like _____ cats.
2. Do you want to see _____ movie? Did you see _____ movie “Harry Potter”?
3. I don’t have _____ pencil. Can I take one from _____ table next to you?
4. Do you have _____ eraser that I can use?
5. _____ children have _____ free day tomorrow.
6. Did you see _____ big black dog that ran across the street?
7. I don’t know _____ answer to question number 5.
8. I always eat _____ sandwich when I come home from school.
9. I didn’t buy _____ sugar because _____ supermarket was closed.
10. Many kids use _____ computers or tablets at school.
Did you make a mistake? Highlight it. Do you know why it is a mistake?
Exercise:
Kim: My sister has _____ birthday tomorrow. I want to buy her _____ present. She likes _____ books and clothes.
Mel: What about going to _____ restaurant?
Kim: Yes, that’s _____ idea! There’s _____ new one that we can go to.
Mel: Do you know _____ name of _____ restaurant? Maybe you should call to reserve _____ place for tomorrow.
Kim: Thanks for _____ suggestion. Do you want to come with us?
Mel: No thank you. I already have other plans for tomorrow. Have fun!
New vocabulary: Copy and learn any new words from this page.
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