A / An / The
When to use a, an, and the.
'a/an' = first time. 'the' = we both know which one.
Look & say Β· Step 1
5 minGet ready
Say one new thing in the room: 'It's a/an ___.'
Find one thing both of you can see. Say: 'The ___ is ___.'
Try: apple, book, egg, umbrella, car.
Words to learn Β· Step 2
8 minNew words today
an apple
Vowel sound β 'an'
"I eat an apple."
a book
Consonant sound β 'a'
"I read a book."
an egg
Vowel sound β 'an'
"I want an egg."
an umbrella
Vowel sound β 'an'
"Take an umbrella."
a car
Consonant sound β 'a'
"She has a car."
the sun
Only one β 'the'
"The sun is bright."
the moon
Only one β 'the'
"Look at the moon."
the house
We both know which one
"The house is big."
a teacher
Jobs use 'a/an'
"He is a teacher."
an engineer
Vowel sound β 'an'
"She is an engineer."
Activate Β· Personalise Β· Recycle
Use these words now
Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.
a car
"For me, a car is β¦"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
the moon
"For me, the moon is β¦"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
an umbrella
"For me, an umbrella is β¦"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Sounds & saying Β· Step 3
5 minWeak 'a' /Ι/ and 'an' /Ιn/, strong 'the' /Γ°iΛ/ before vowels
'a' and 'an' are usually weak and quick. 'the' is /Γ°Ι/ before consonants and /Γ°iΛ/ before vowels (the apple).
- β’ a book /Ι/
- β’ an apple /Ιn/
- β’ the car /Γ°Ι/
- β’ the apple /Γ°iΛ/
- β’ the sun /Γ°Ι/
Language focus Β· Step 4
10 mina / an / the β the quick rule
Quick rule
a / an / the β the quick rule
a + consonant sound (a book). an + vowel sound (an apple). the = we both know which one.
Pattern
I have a dog.
She is an engineer.
Open the window, please.
There is a cat in the garden. The cat is black.
The sun is hot today.
Question 1.I want ___ apple.
Question 2.She is ___ teacher.
Question 3.Close ___ door, please.
Question 4.He lives in ___ small house.
Question 5.Look at ___ moon!
Question 6.I need ___ umbrella.
Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.
Quick check 1.First time we talk about it: ___ book.
Quick check 2.We both know which one: ___ book on the desk.
Reading Β· Step 5
7 minA new flat
Lina has a new flat. π It is small but nice. There is a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom. The kitchen is sunny. βοΈ The bedroom is quiet. She has a cat. π± The cat sleeps on the sofa every day.
Question 1.How many rooms?
Question 2.What pet does she have?
Question 3.Where does the cat sleep?
Q1.The flat is big.
Q2.The kitchen is sunny.
Listening Β· Step 6
10 minAt the hotel
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Guest
Hi, I have a reservation.
Receptionist
Welcome! Your room is on the second floor.
Guest
Is there a lift?
Receptionist
Yes, the lift is on the right.
Guest
And is there an iron in the room?
Receptionist
Yes, the iron is in the wardrobe.
Question 1.Which floor?
Question 2.Where is the lift?
Question 3.Where is the iron?
Practice Β· Step 7
8 minChoose the word
Question 1.I have ___ orange.
Question 2.She is ___ doctor.
Question 3.Open ___ window, please.
Question 4.There is ___ cat. ___ cat is black.
Question 5.Look at ___ stars!
Q1.umbrella β ___ umbrella
Q2.car β ___ car
Q3.sun (only one) β ___ sun
Survival English Β· Step 8
4 minSpeaking β describe a room
Task
Describe your room in 4 sentences. Use 'a/an' for new things, 'the' for things we both know.
Strategy
Start with 'There is aβ¦'. Then add 'The ___ isβ¦'.
Example
There is a desk and a lamp. The desk is white. The lamp is on the desk.
Writing Β· Step 9
5 minWrite a little
Your task
Write 5 sentences about your bag. Use a/an/the.
Show model answer
I have a bag. There is a book and an apple in it. The book is red. The apple is for lunch. The bag is on the chair.
Speaking Β· Step 10
12 minTalk together
Pairs: A describes 3 things in the room. B asks 'Where is the ___?'
Useful phrases
- β’ There is a / an ___.
- β’ The ___ is on / in / under ___.
- β’ Where is the ___?
- β’ It's ___.
- AI want ___ apple.
- B_______________
- AAnd close ___ window, please.
- B_______________
Homework Β· Step 11
Take-homePractice at home
Write 10 nouns and put a / an in front.
Take a photo of your room. Send 4 sentences with a/an/the.
Say 5 things you can see now using 'There is a/anβ¦'.
Recap Β· Step 12
3 minWhat you learned
- π °οΈ Use 'a' before consonant sounds.
- π °οΈ Use 'an' before vowel sounds.
- π΅ Use 'the' when we both know which one.
- π£οΈ You can describe rooms and objects naturally.