A, An, The: Does It Really Matter Which One?

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Throughout this lesson, you will learn what the articles are, why we have them, and when and how they can (or should!) be used.

This will then help you to use them correctly, so that others can understand you better when you are communicating through writing or talking.

• What are articles?

Articles are parts of speech, or words, that tell you whether a noun is talking about something in particular (or specific) or if it is talking about something general (or vague).

If the word is talking about something specific, it is a definite article. In that case, you use the word the.

If the word is talking about something general, you use an indefinite article: either a or an. You aren't talking about one particular thing, you are talking about any of that one thing.

Here is an example:

In this first question, we use the word the if we are talking about one dog in particular.

Maybe my friend and I were playing inside with my dog when the dog ran off. When I ask my friend if she sees the dog, she knows that we are talking about the specific dog that we were just playing with.

In this second question, we use the word a if we are talking about any dog.

Maybe my friend and I heard a barking sound outside, and we were wondering if it was a dog or not. Since we don't know exactly which dog we are talking about, I just ask my friend if she sees a or any dog.

Okay, so you know when to use the instead of using a or an.

• But how do you decide between using a or an?

You use a when the word that comes after it, the noun that you are talking about and that goes along with the article, starts with a consonant sound (any letter which isn't a vowel).

You use an when the word that comes after it, the noun that you are talking about and that goes along with the article, starts with a vowel sound. Remember the vowels are A E I O U and sometimes Y!

For example:

Elephant starts with e, which is a vowel sound, so we use an. Cat starts with c, which is a consonant sound, so we use a

EVEN IF the word doesn't actually start with a vowel and it's starting consonant has a vowel SOUND, you still use an.

For example:

While honor starts with h, which is a consonant, it does start with a vowel sound, so we use an instead of a.

Let's look at this chart to see all we've learned:

• Want to review it another way?

Watch Articles - a, an, the | English | Grades-2,3 | TutWay |:

Some words don't make sense to use articles with them. Words that don't need articles are:

• abstract nouns used generally

Example: Food is needed to live. (We would not say a food is needed.)

• when a place, company, or person is the only one

Example: My aunt lives in France. (We would not say the France.)

• names of meals, games, sports

Example: Let's play Monopoly! (We would not say the Monopoly.)

One more chart to help know when and which articles to use!

• Ready for Got It?

I sure think so!