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NAME FIFI
LESSON # 01 (1 9)
DATE 04.28 (when lesson will be taught)

QUARTER spring2015

CONTEXT
Level: Intermediate
Skill : Grammar
Topic or function: Articles

OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to identify when we use a/an and the.
Students will be able to create a short paragraph that includes the
articles.
Students will be able to practice articles by describing what do they buy
in the supermarket.

TARGET EXPRESSIONS

OR

MAIN

TEACHING POINTS

English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns;
a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular
nouns. We call the the definite article and a/an the indefinite article.
the = definite article
a/an = indefinite article

SOURCES

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1. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/540/01/
2. http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/agr-determiners.html#practice1

MATERIALS
1. 3 handouts: 2 exercises, 1 context.

Lesson Plan Phases:

Warm Up

(3mins)

1. T asks Hows your weekend? Ss respond____

2. T asks What are articles ?. Hopefully, Ss respond A, an, the.
3. T asks Ss to read an article, and asks Ss to circle articles in the paragraph.
4. T says, There are some vocabulary words below to help you understanding the article.
Go ahead and start reading.

Presentation

Practice:

(27mins)

1. T gives a definition of a/an usage and some examples.

Indefinite Articles: a and an
(1) "A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a
group.
"My daughter really wants a dog for Christmas." This refers to any dog.
We don't know which dog because we haven't found the dog yet.

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"Somebody call a policeman!" This refers to any policeman. We don't
need a specific policeman; we need any policeman who is available.
"When I was at the zoo, I saw an elephant!" Here, we're talking about a
single, non-specific thing, in this case an elephant. There are probably
several elephants at the zoo, but there's only one we're talking about
here.
Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next
word.
a + singular noun beginning with a
consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
an + singular noun beginning with a
vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan
a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like
'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is
used); a university; a unicycle
an + nouns starting with silent "h": an hour
(2) "A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group.
For example, "I would like to go see a movie." Here, we're not talking about
a specific movie. We're talking about any movie. There are many movies,
and I want to see any movie. I don't have a specific one in mind.

2. T gives Ss exercise 1, and reads the direction to Ss. T guides Ss to do the

first one in class. After that, T checks the answers with Ss.

3. T gives a definition of the usage and some examples.

Definite Article: the
(1) The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or
particular. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group.

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"The dog that bit me ran away." Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me.
"I was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat!" Here, we're talking about a particular
policeman. Even if we don't know the policeman's name, it's still a particular policeman
because it is the one who saved the cat.
"I saw the elephant at the zoo." Here, we're talking about a specific noun. Probably there is
only one elephant at the zoo.
(2) The is used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group. For
example, "I just saw the most popular movie of the year." There are many
movies, but only one particular movie is the most popular. Therefore, we
use the.

4. T gives exercise 2 and reads the direction to Ss. After that, T and Ss
discuss together and then T gives the answer.

Production

(15 mins)

1. T asks Ss to write a short paragraph to describe what they buy in the supermarket.
2. T asks Ss to discuss in groups what they have written to ensure they have correct usage
of articles.
3. T picks 1-3 students to read their work.

Wrap Up

(5mins)

1. T asks Ss when we use a/an, when we use the.

2. T asks Ss Can I use a water? Ss respond No. T asks them Why? Ss respond
Water is uncountable noun.

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3. T asks Ss Can I use a egg?Ss respond No. T asks them Why? Ss respond an
egg, because egg is vowel sound.
4. T asks Ss Can I say I want to buy the car for my boyfriends birthday? Ss respond
No. T asks them Why? Ss respond a car, because the noun is not specific or
particular.

Exercise 1
Discuss with your partner the whether following sentences are correct or
incorrect. If it is correct, please put C below the sentence; if it is incorrect,
please correct it and provide your reason. You have 7mins.
1.We are going on a trip next week to Lake Shasta.

2.We'll take a tent, our sleeping bags and map.

3.We can buy food and water when we get to the lake.

4.When we arrive, we'll spend couple hours putting our camp together.

5.We have to make sure that we have enough wood to make a fire.

6.We can swim, hike, or fish whichever activity we like.

7.This lake is known for good fishing.

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8.With such good fishing, we won't be hungry campers.

9.We'll have good time and return on Sunday night.

10.It's always wonderful feeling to return home and take shower.

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Answer Key
1. C
2. Incorrect. Change it to "a map".
3. C
4. Incorrect. Change it to "a couple (of) hours".
5. C
6. C
7. C
8. C
9. Incorrect. Change it to "a good time".
10. Incorrect. Change it to "a wonderful feeling" and "a shower".

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Exercise 2
Choose the appropriate answers to fit the context.
(Maybe more than one)
11.The U.S. Postal Service doesn't have_________money to continue.
A. the

B. some

C. enough

12.It will run out of cash______month.

A. the

B. next

C. which

13._______deadline is coming soon.

A. The

B. That

C. One

14.______Internet has brought_______postal service to its knees.

A. The

B. This

C. Our

15.The agency has become______dinosaur.

A. a

B. the

C. that

Answer Key:
11. "the" or "enough"

12. next

13. "The" or "That"

14. The/the; The/our 15. a