A, an, the or no article

  • B1 · Intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • articles

Articles: a and an for one of many, the for the one we know, and no article for things in general and most names. Places with and without the (the Pacific, Lake Tahoe), a or an by sound (an hour, a university), and a guessing game about famous places.

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Free, no card needed. The PDF has every slide, the homework and an answer key.

a catan applethe sun

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2Reading: a postcardReading
  3. 3Why a, the or nothing?Grammar exercise
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5a, an, the or no article?Grammar rule
  6. 6a or an?Grammar exercise
  7. 7Places: the or no article?Grammar exercise
  8. 8A snow dayGrammar exercise
  9. 9Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  10. 10Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  11. 11Game: guess the placeSpeaking practice
  12. 12About youGrammar exercise
  13. 13Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: a, an, the or no article?Grammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: a week in ChicagoGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: a postcardDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. What is the most beautiful place you have ever visited?
  2. Is there a lake, a river or a mountain near your home? What is it called?
  3. What do you usually have for breakfast?

Grammar rule

a, an, the or no article?

a / an

  • one of many, or the first time we mention it: I took a boat. There's an island in the bay.
  • jobs: She's a nurse. He's an engineer.
  • prices and times: $150 a night, three times a week
  • an before a vowel sound: an hour, an old prison · but a university (you-), a one-way ticket (wun-)

the

  • we know which one: the hotel (Jess's hotel), the fish (the fish she ate)
  • there is only one: the sun, the moon, the world
  • superlatives, and first, last, only: the most beautiful drive, the first time
  • oceans, seas, rivers, mountain ranges, deserts: the Pacific, the Mississippi, the Rockies, the Sahara
  • country names with States, Kingdom or Republic, or a plural name: the United States, the Philippines

no article

  • plural and uncountable nouns in general: People say it's beautiful. I love coffee.
  • most countries, cities, streets, parks, lakes and single mountains: Mexico, Boston, Fifth Avenue, Central Park, Lake Tahoe, Mount Fuji
  • days, months, meals and some places: on Sunday, in May, have dinner, go home, go to bed, at work

Teach it live with video and a whiteboard, or print it: the PDF has every slide, the homework and the answers.

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