Structure: Articles – Basic 5 English Lesson Note (Second Term)

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Define definite and indefinite articles
2. Identify the correct usage of articles in sentences
3. Explain the right usage of the articles A, An and The
4. Use definite and indefinite articles in sentences
5. To understand the use of definite and indefinite articles in English grammar
6. To be able to correctly use “a”, “an”, and “the” in sentences

Learning Activities

1. Pupils, as a class, study a short text or write up and identify the definite and indefinite articles that are in the sentence
2. Pupils in groups identify and indefinite articles are used in sentences
3. Recognize the wrong usage of articles and avoid making such mistakes when reading out of stories and indefinite in sentences

Embedded Core Skills

1. Communication and Collaboration
2. Critical thinking and problem solving
3. Leadership skills and Personal Development
4. Creativity and Imagination

Learning Materials

• Text books
• Wall charts
• Whiteboard and markers
• Handouts with examples of sentences using definite and indefinite articles
• A list of 15 multiple choice questions on the topic

Content

Define and Indefinite Articles

In English grammar, there are three articles: “a”, “an”, and “the”. These are known as articles or “a” and “an” are definite articles while “the” is an indefinite article. Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. Considering the following examples:

After the long day, the cup of tea tastes particularly good.

By using the definite article “the”, we’ve shown that it was one specific day that was long and one specific cup of tea that tastes good.

After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good.

By using the indefinite article “a”, we’ve created a more general statement, implying that any cup of tea would taste good after any long day.

When To Use Indefinite Articles

Indefinite articles are used when we are referring to something that is not already known or an unspecific item. They are used before singular countable nouns and have one of two forms:

• When referring to any member of a group: “A dog is a man’s best friend.”
• When talking about a job or profession: “A book can be a great source of entertainment.”
• When talking about occupation or profession: “He’s a doctor” or “She’s an engineer”
• When talking about a specific member of a group: “An ice-cold pizza on the beach; that’s a treat”
• When talking about something for one of a kind: “He’s a genius”
• When talking about a food that is uncountable: “I want to buy just a few items”
• When we are talking about something for the first time that we have no previous knowledge: “I want to buy a book”

The Use Of Article “A”

1. To indicate a singular noun that refers to any one in the class rather
2. To indicate any singular noun in a general sense: “A dog is a man’s best friend.”
3. To indicate a singular noun when introducing a new subject: “A dog ran across the street to a woman.”
4. The time comes before a word beginning with a consonant sound (e.g. a book, a house):
5. To indicate a specific noun that is one of a kind: “He’s a genius”
6. To indicate a singular noun that follows the number “one”: “I have one car and a dog”
7. To indicate a singular noun that follows a number: “I have three cars and a dog”
8. To indicate a specific noun that follows certain adjectives: “I have ever owned for my project”
9. To indicate a singular noun that follows a unit of time: “A day like this won’t”

The Use Of Article “An”

The indefinite article “an” does the indefinite article comes before a word beginning with a vowel sound.

Examples:

• an apple
• an elephant

1. To indicate one singular noun before a word starting with a vowel sound: “I saw an apple on the table”
2. To indicate a singular noun in a general sense, before a word starting with a vowel sound: “An elephant is a majestic animal”
3. To indicate a singular noun when introducing a new subject before a word starting with a vowel sound: “An interesting story unfolded”
4. To indicate an unspecified one before a word starting with a vowel sound: “I want to buy an umbrella for today’s rain”
5. To indicate a singular noun that follows a number, before a word starting with a vowel sound: “I saw three cars and an elephant at the zoo”
6. To indicate a singular noun that follows a measurement, before a word starting with a vowel sound: “The ball is an instrument”
7. To indicate a singular noun that follows a unit of time before a word starting with a vowel sound: “An hour is sixty minutes”

The Use Of Article “The”

The definite article is used to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. In many cases, this is because the noun was mentioned before or referring to something that is already known.

Examples:

• The birds in the Holy book of the Christians
• Give John the pencil

1. To indicate a specific noun that has already been mentioned: “I saw a dog on my walk today. The dog was very friendly”
2. To indicate a singular noun: “The sun is hot and the air and the center of our solar system”
3. To indicate a noun that is known to both the speaker and listener: “The traffic today is especially heavy”
4. To indicate a noun that is one of a specific group or class: “The dog is a mammal.” (the dog as a species)
5. To indicate a noun that is part of a specific group or class: “The dog is a mammal.” (the cat as a member)
6. To indicate a noun that is being referred to in a statement: “The book on the table is mine”
7. To indicate a noun that is part of a well-known place or organization: “The American football”
8. To indicate a noun that is part of a little or proper noun: “The part of Britain”

Non-Examples (when not to use Articles A, An and The)

Examples of the use of Articles:

1. I bought some a girl in the swimming pool.
2. We are going to the cinema tonight to watch good film.
3. I like to eat apple every day.
4. She did not the policeman from how incompetently organized – but a friend out and made it.
5. His grandfather told them about the humor specific attention.
6. I want to go to the university next year.
7. I come at the time find.
8. We did not visit the dog then (I have already mentioned).
9. I would like to visit the Amazon forest next year.
10. Linda would confuse at the department she has an unsuccessful result.
11. (If the noun is meant generally and not specifically meant and not specific)
12. I enjoy listening to music (music in general, not a specific type of music)
13. We are going to use the motor of Liberty and downtown near 109 Statue of Liberty.