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Review of definite and indefinite articles

Presentation




Do you know how you can refer to a subject or many subjects?

Objective

At the end of this topic, you will: review the use of the definite article as subjects in particular, and the indefinite article a/an to refer to any subject, object or place.

Content

Review of definite and indefinite articles.

In English and Spanish, it is common to use articles. However, they are used in different forms. Spanish speakers tend to use articles in English the same way they are used in Spanish. In this section, you will review rules for definite and indefinite articles.


Use indefinite article: a/an


Click on each concept to visualize detailed information.

A man came and told me...


A man

Retrieved on 130517 from https://pixabay.com/photo-2286440/

A cat came to my home this morning


A cat

Retrieved on 130517 from https://pixabay.com/photo-323262/

She is an accountant


An accountant

Retrieved on 130517 from https://pixabay.com/photo-615384/

I´m a little afraid of bees


I´m a little afraid

Retrieved on 130517 from https://pixabay.com/photo-19086/

Use definite article: the


Click on each concept to visualize detailed information.

The man also said it was a good decision.


The man

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What´s the longest river in America?


The longest river

Retrieved on 130517 from https://pixabay.com/photo-1929292/

I´ve never been to the United States.


The United States

Retrieved on 130517 from https://pixabay.com/photo-1291945/

I love when the sun rises


The sun rises

Retrieved on 130517 from https://pixabay.com/photo-693384/

The tiger is the biggest feline


The tiger

Retrieved on 130517 from https://pixabay.com/photo-1822535/

I´ll see you in the morning (time adv.)/ in the end she found love (mode adv.)


People talking

Retrieved on 130517 from https://pixabay.com/photo-1953343/

Exercise 1

Finding the error

As previously reviewed, the definite and indefinite articles have some patterns in their use.

Reading

Activity 1

Finding the error

As reviewed in this section, the definite and indefinite articles can be used to talk about people, occupations, expressions, etc. In this activity, you will read the text “Activity, not addiction.” Then, according to the context, write the missing article. After this, identify the article rules in specific cases.

Choose from the box below the article missing in the text. Then type it in the corresponding space. You have two attempts to answer every item. At the end of the activity, you can check your score.


Listening

Activity 2

Loved Rosty

Listening is essential when it comes to language learning, especially for a Spanish speaker learning English.
In the following part, you will listen to a story about Rosty, a puppy adopted by a family. Then, complete the following sentences with the correct definite and indefinite articles.

Puppy


Listen to the conversation.


Listen to the track and indicate when to use definite articles.
Drag the correct option to complete the sentences. You have two attempts to answer the exercise. At the end of the activity, you can check your score.

Writing

Activity 3

Free writing

In this activity, you will practice written production, which shows the way you organise your thoughts. It is also the chance to implement your knowledge over the use of English articles.


Write a text about the topic of your choice (when you met a friend, an animal you found on the street, a hobby, a trip, etc.). Your text must include:


  • An introductory or topic sentence (general, compared to the supporting information).
  • At least two supporting ideas, sentences or paragraphs (specific, compared to the topic sentence).
  • The necessary conjuctions (sequence, addition and/or cause-effect, etc.).
  • Appropriate punctuation (periods, commas, colons, semicolons).
  • At least ten English articles used according to each rule seen.
example

Speaking

Activity 4

Using the indefinite
and definite articles


In English, the use of both definite and indefinite articles can be troublesome. An oral product will show your progress and mastery of the topic.

Instructions

a) Record 5 sentences in which you employ the definite article. The uses of the definite article have to be based in at least one of the cases of the definite article practised before.
b) Record 5 sentences in which you employ the indefinite article. The indefinite article must be used according to at least one of the cases of use of indefinite articles studied previously.

example

After you finished, evaluate yourself according to the following checklist. Don’t forget to use the structures reviewed in this topic. After that, according to the score you got, look in the evaluation scale to know how good you did on this task.


Self-assessment

Use of definite and indefinite articles


In this exercise you have to discriminate between the correct and incorrect options.

Reference

Basic references

• StudySpanish. (n.d.) Definite and indefinite articles: part I. Retrieve on May 16, 2017 from http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/defart1