Keys to Teaching Grammar to English Language Learners

Danielle LoboMahuani Lopes

Key 7 - Articles

Indefinite Articlesa, an

I have a parrot and three horses.

My father had an absurd idea of moving to the United Kingdom.

I always have an umbrella in my bag.

A= consonant sound (a dog, a pencil, a university, a hat)

An= vowel sound (an eraser, an hour, an umbrella, an year)

Use a and an before singular

nouns.

Key 7 - Articles

Use the to talk about:

Definite Articlesthe

• something specific

•Superlative

•Names of countries in the plural

•Rivers, oceans and also geographic parts of the Globe

The book is on the table.

She is the best friend I have ever had.

Obama is the president of the United States of America.

The Amazon river is the largest in the world.

Key 7 - Articles

Key 7 - Articles

NO Article!

The Cats can be great pets.A couple’s success depends on the patience.

NO articles when talking about: Categories or groups in general Abstract nouns (feelings and ideas)