Articles
BasicListen to the sound, not the letter.
- a goes with consonant sounds: a book, a dog; an with vowel sounds: an apple, an egg, an hour.
- First mention uses a / an; the second mention uses the.
- Unique things take the: the sun, the moon, the sky.
文體小知識：Indefinite vs definite.
§Text Passage
1This morning, Mum gave me an apple and an orange for my snack box. She also boiled an egg and made me a sandwich. I put a bottle of water and an umbrella into my bag. On the way to school, I saw a dog sleeping under a tree. Suddenly, it started to rain, so I opened my umbrella.
2In class, our teacher read us a story from a big book. The story was about a clever mouse. The mouse lived in an old house near a river. The book on the desk belongs to the school library. I borrowed it last week and finished it in two days. It was funny and exciting.
3On Friday, we will visit a museum. The museum is next to the park. My friend Tom wants to be an artist one day. He says an hour in the art room is never enough. Remember, we use 'a' before a consonant sound and 'an' before a vowel sound. We use 'the' when we talk about something special or already known. Articles are small words, but they are very useful.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
This morning, Mum gave me an apple and an orange for my snack box.
今天早上，媽媽給了我一個蘋果同一個橙做小食。
She also boiled an egg and made me a sandwich.
她還煮了一隻蛋，整了個三文治給我。
I put a bottle of water and an umbrella into my bag.
我把一瓶水同一把雨傘放進書包。
On the way to school, I saw a dog sleeping under a tree.
上學途中，我看見一隻狗正在樹下睡覺。
Suddenly, it started to rain, so I opened my umbrella.
突然下起雨來，於是我打開雨傘。
In class, our teacher read us a story from a big book.
上課時，老師用一本大書讀了一個故事給我們聽。
The story was about a clever mouse.
這個故事是講一隻好聰明的老鼠。
The mouse lived in an old house near a river.
那隻老鼠住在河邊一間舊屋裡。
The book on the desk belongs to the school library.
書桌上面那本書是學校圖書館的。
I borrowed it last week and finished it in two days.
我上星期借了它，兩天就看完。
It was funny and exciting.
又好笑又刺激。
On Friday, we will visit a museum.
星期五，我們會去參觀一座博物館。
The museum is next to the park.
那座博物館在公園旁邊。
My friend Tom wants to be an artist one day.
我朋友 Tom 長大後想做藝術家。
He says an hour in the art room is never enough.
他說在美術室一個小時永遠都不夠。
Remember, we use 'a' before a consonant sound and 'an' before a vowel sound.
記住，子音音素前用 'a'，母音音素前用 'an'。
We use 'the' when we talk about something special or already known.
講到某樣特別或者已經知的東西，就用 'the'。
Articles are small words, but they are very useful.
冠詞是很小的字，但是很有用。
1Summary 重點摘要
Listen to the sound, not the letter.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Before consonant.
Before vowel.
Specific.
Fruit.
Fruit.
Reading.
Food.
Rain cover.
3Step by step Steps
- aUse a before a singular countable noun that begins with a consonant sound. Example: a book, a dog, a pen. Remember that a only goes with singular nouns; it cannot be used before plurals or uncountable nouns. The choice depends on the sound, not the letter, as explained below. Also remember that a and an mean any one of a kind, not a particular one; for a particular one, use the.
- anUse an before a singular countable noun that begins with a vowel sound. Example: an apple, an egg, an orange. The test is the first sound of the word: apple begins with the vowel /æ/, so it takes an. When an adjective stands before the noun, decide by the first sound of the adjective, as in an old book and a red apple. This is a common exam point at primary level.
- theThe is used for specific things that both speakers know. Example: the book on the desk. Note that the can go with singular, plural and uncountable nouns, as in the books and the water. Unique things always take the, such as the sun and the moon. The is also used for the second mention of a person or thing. If the listener does not know which one you mean, introduce it with a or an first.
- TipThe rule for choosing a or an is simple: a before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound — listen to the sound, not the letter. Example: a useful book begins with the /j/ sound, so it takes a; an umbrella begins with a vowel sound, so it takes an. Some words start with a vowel letter but a consonant sound, such as a European. Memorise the rule together with the typical examples, and say the first sound to yourself before you choose in exams.
- Use the for the second mentionMention something for the first time with a or an; from the second mention on, both speakers know which one is meant, so use the. Example: I saw a dog. The dog was sleeping. The first sentence introduces a dog with a, and the second sentence refers to the same dog with the. This rule matters greatly in storytelling and writing: new things enter with a or an, and after that the keeps the story connected.
- a or an depends on the soundChoose a or an by the pronunciation: in an hour the h is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound and takes an; in a university the letter u reads /juː/, which starts with the consonant /j/, so it takes a. The same letter can stand for different sounds, so always read the word aloud to judge. Similar cases include an honest boy and a uniform. If you say the first sound to yourself while checking, you will not choose wrongly.
5Worked example Example
Question: How do we choose between the three articles a, an and the?
- Step 1: Ask yourself whether this is the first mention; first mentions take a or an as a general introduction.
- Step 2: Listen to the next sound: a before a consonant sound, as in a book, and an before a vowel sound, as in an apple.
- Step 3: Use the for the second mention or when both speakers know which one — The mouse lived in an old house. The house was near a river.
- Step 4: Put the before unique things — the sun, the moon, the sky.
- Step 5: Leave out the article in fixed phrases such as go to school and go to bed; learn these phrases as wholes instead of analysing word by word.
- Answer: Sample answer: I saw a dog under a tree. The dog was sleeping. Mum gave me an apple and an orange. The sun is bright today. I go to school by bus.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1a vs an?
Q2___ apple?
Q3___ book?
Q4Use of the?
Q5___ egg?
Q6___ umbrella?
8Recap Recap
- a goes with consonant sounds: a book, a dog; an with vowel sounds: an apple, an egg, an hour.
- First mention uses a / an; the second mention uses the.
- Unique things take the: the sun, the moon, the sky.
- Set phrases drop the: go to school, go to bed.
- Choose a or an by the sound, not the letter.