1. Using The Indefinite Article
Easy peasy, right?

2. What are the rules? ‘a’ + consonant ‘an’ + vowel?
‘a’ or ‘an’ ?
What are the rules?
‘a’ + consonant
‘an’ + vowel?

3. Wrong!!!! Complete with ‘a’ or ‘an’: ____ umbrella ____ horse
____ hour
____ union
____ understanding

4. Can you work out the rules?
Answers
An umbrella
A horse
An hour
A union
An understanding
Can you work out the rules?

5. It’s about the sound, not the spellingAn
banana
orange
cat
dog
hospital /h/
Honour /ɒ/
university /j/
Undertaking /ʌ/
Yacht /j/

6. Why is it so difficult to master?
The Definite Article
Why is it so difficult to master?

7. ‘A(n)’ or ‘the’ or - ? To talk about...
1. Things in general with plu or UC Ns
2. Something for the first time
3. Something already mentioned
4. Something non-specific (C Ns)
5. There’s only one, or it’s unique
6. Most place names
7. In fixed phrases/chunks
e.g. ‘In ___ 90s’ or ‘in ___ beginning’
Answers -
A(n)
The

8. Justify the use of ‘a(n)’...
Example
1. We got an from Mario. He’s renting a room in a flat in Barcelona.
2. Can you help me? I’ve got a problem with my car.
3. ‘30 miles an hour’ or ‘£4 a Kilo’
Reason
1. It’s not clear or important which one is being talked about. They’re C Ns.
2. It is the first time ‘the problem’ has been mentioned. C N.
3. These are lexical chunks (quantity and frequency)

9. Justify no article being used...
Example
1. People need about 2000 calories every day.
2. Italy, Germany, Lake Garda, Bologna Station, Edinburgh, Asia, George Street
Reason
1. To talk about things in general.
2. For most continents, countries, towns, roads, stations, individual mountains and lakes

10. Justify the use of ‘the’...
Example
1. Stefano brought the children
2. Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon.
3. I’ve got a problem. The problem is...
4. The rich have more fun. The bee could become extinct.
5. The Pacific, the Po, the UK, the USA, the Alps, the 1980s, the Sahara
Reason
1. It’s clear what is being talked about.
2. It’s unique.
3. It’s been mentioned before.
4. +ADJ or + Sing. Count Ns – to talk about things in general.
5. For oceans, rivers, groups of islands/regions, deserts, mountain ranges and decades.

11. Now fill in the blank....
Learning to use the articles correctly in English is difficult because ______________

12. The end!