A, AN, OR THEWhen to use these words

and when to stay silent

Lesson 1: Look, Watch, See

Lesson 2: Talking Naturally About Nature

Lesson 3: We've Got to Stop Meeting Like This!

Lesson 4: Get Married and Throw a Party

Lesson 5: Especially Strange

Lesson 6: Are you Coming or Going?

Lesson 7: To and Fro with To and For

Lesson 8: A, An, The, or …? Today's Lesson

MISUSED AND MISUNDERSTOOD WORDS

A, An, The, or …?THAT is the question! *

* This is a play on words* referencing the frequently quoted Shakespearean character of Hamlet who said, "To be or not to be. That is the question."

Many words can be paired with both “a/an” or “the.”

Just remember “a/an” means “one” of something.

Also, "a cellphone" in the example above indicates that it isn't special. It is just one of several cellphones in the world.

However, "the cellphone" indicates it is the specific one.

The boy is talking on a cellphone.

The boy is talking on the cellphone.

“THE” IS OFTEN USED TO REFER TO ANY GYM, HOSPITAL, STORE, AND LIBRARYI’m going to the store. This usually means the grocery store. It could be one of several that you go to, but it is familiar and it has a special purpose, so we say “the.”

I had to go to the hospital last week. Even though my community has several hospitals, I still say “the hospital.” Because it has a special purpose and I am familiar with those hospitals, so I say “the.”

However, if I was in another community (or a foreign country) I might say, “I had to go to a hospital.” In this case my lack of familiarity with that hospital is conveyed.

We are creatures of habit. So, we tend to go to the same gym.

Even if you were gym-hopping*, you would still say that you were headed to the gym.

(Why?)

You might also say, “I’m going to try out a new gym.”

This would emphasize that it is unfamiliar.

"I’m going to the gym."

PRONUNCIATION OF THE: THUH OR THEE?

My Country ‘Tis of Thee…

This is the first line of a well-known patriotic song.

Thee means “you” in 17th century English.

Sometimes “the” is pronounced “thuh,” other times it is pronounced “thee.” Remember how “a” becomes “an” before a vowel sound?

Similarly, when “the” comes before a vowel SOUND we say “thee.”

Kelly Clarkson’s performance at President Obama’s 2013 Inauguration*For this lesson place the cursor at the 20 second marker. Listen to 20-45 sec.

USE "A" AND "AN" TO MEAN: A SINGLE THING

USE "THE" TO MEAN: A CERTAIN THING, OR SOMETHING FAMILIAR, OR WITH A SPECIAL PURPOSE

NEXT, WHEN TO

STAY QUIETShhhhhh...

QUIET SUBJECTS

General pluralsButterflies remind me of spring.

(butterflies in general)

Comparewith specific plurals

The butterflies remind me of spring.

(The particular butterflies that I'm looking at--or thinking about now)

QUIET SUBJECTS

General mass (uncountable) nounsRice is delicious

(rice in general)

Comparewith specific

The rice is delicious.

(The particular rice that I'm referring to)

QUIET SUBJECTS

Proper nouns (names, holidays, & languages)

*except if "the" is a part of the name

I need a card for Mother's Day.

My sister lives in Canada, but I live in the US.*

* Use articles with abbreviations and acronyms ONLY IF the letters are pronounced: the UN, the IT department, an MBA, or a PhD, but just SAD (seasonal affective disorder), and MADD (mothers against drunk drivers).

QUIET SUBJECTSGeneral placesExamples: home, bed, church, school, jail

I'm going home and going to bed.

Compare with specific pluralsDo you want to sleep in the bed?

(There is probably just one bed available)

With sportsLet's go biking. (general sport)

BUT: Let's go for a bike ride.

(bike describes the type of ride)

CREATE YOUR OWN SENTENCES

2. Use some of these "quiet" subjects: 11News (proper noun), rain, wind, cold, snow, water droplets, Christmas, holidays, Santa, children, boys, girls

1. Use both "a" and "the" to describe what you see

3. Explain the difference in meaning when an article is used with the nouns above

4. Identify the type of nouns above. The first one is done for you. See slides 8-11 if needed

COURSE REVIEW

Watch?, Look?, See?

Talk about nature. Meeting someone?

Weddings & Parties Use "especially."

Coming or going?

Use to and for.

A, an, the, or nothing?

This slide presentation was created by Michele W. Snider, teacher for SkimaTalk, Inc., and author of

My Virtual English

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