Articles: A and AN
Objective: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to understand when to use the articles 'a' and 'an' before nouns in English.
Understanding Articles 'A' and 'An'
Introduction
Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. In English, there are two indefinite articles: 'a' and 'an'.
- 'A' is used before words that begin with a consonant sound.
- 'An' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).
Examples:
1. 'A' Example:
I saw a dog in the park.
Explanation: "Dog" begins with the consonant sound /d/, so we use 'a'.
2. 'An' Example:
She has an apple.
Explanation: "Apple" begins with the vowel sound /æ/, so we use 'an'.
Quick Rules to Remember
- Use 'a' for:
- Consonant sounds (e.g., a car, a university - note that university starts with the 'yu:' sound)
- Use 'an' for:
- Vowel sounds (e.g., an hour - "hour" starts with the vowel sound /aʊə/)
Practice Activity
Fill in the blanks with 'a' or 'an'.
- I need ___ umbrella.
- She is reading ___ interesting book.
- I want to be ___ engineer.
Check your answers:
Fill in the blanks with ‘a’ or ‘an’.
1. I need ___ umbrella. (Answer: an)
2. She is reading ___ interesting book. (Answer: an)
3. I want to be ___ engineer. (Answer: an)
1. I need ___ umbrella. (Answer: an)
2. She is reading ___ interesting book. (Answer: an)
3. I want to be ___ engineer. (Answer: an)
Review
- Remember that the choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound that follows the article, not just the first letter of the word.
- Practice using 'a' and 'an' in your sentences to become more comfortable with these articles.
Conclusion
Now you know the basics of using 'a' and 'an'! Try to incorporate them into your speaking and writing, and you'll improve your English fluency.