In early elementary, students learn about the use of definite (the) and indefinite (a/an) articles.
What is an article?
An article is an adjective. If you remember, adjective modify nouns.
In English we have two articles: a/an and the.
Definite article - the
the = definite article.
The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns.
For example: The squirrel hid the chestnut in a tree.
Indefinite article – a/an
a/an = indefinite article.
A/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns.
For example: When I was at the zoo, I saw a lion roar loudly.
Is it a or an?
Using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word.
A in front of singular noun beginning with a consonant: a banana, a girl, a bike.
An in front of singular noun beginning with a vowel: an orange, an elephant, an oven.
In the parts of speech section of our grade 1 grammar section, we have two sets of worksheets to practice articles.
Articles a and an in worksheets
Students choose between a or an in sentences in these worksheets.
Practice a, an or the
Students practice whether to put a, an or the in front of words.
