Using A, An and The

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.