Lesson: The Definite and Indefinite Article

Materials: Power point, board game

Audience: Intermediate +
Procedure:
A. Motivation
The teacher will ask the students to encircle the word “a” and box the word “the” in the
paragraph and the word it modifies.

I am from Seattle, Washington. Seattle is a city in the United States. It is near the border
of Canada in the northwest corner of the USA. I live in a town called Olympia which is on the
Puget Sound. I live in a house in a street in the countryside. The street is called "Bear Street"
and the house is old - more than 100 years old! I am an English teacher at a school in the center
of the town. I like books and taking photographs. I usually have lunch at school. I usually go
home by car. We have all kinds of food in Olympia. I like Italian food very much. Sometimes, I
go to an Italian restaurant in Seattle. The restaurant is called "Luigi's". Italian food is great!

B. Lesson Proper
The teacher will discuss about the definite and indefinite article.
a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with
consonants
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.
• an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with
vowels (a,e,i,o,u)
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.
• the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener
know)
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?
• The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time you repeat that object
use "the".
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.
• DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and
mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as "The United States".
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
They live in northern British Columbia.
• Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas -
My country borders on the Pacific Ocean
• DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general
I like Russian tea.
She likes reading books.
• DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport
He has breakfast at home.
I go to university.
He comes to work by taxi.
C. Activity
The teacher will have a game with the students.
Directions: Move your token along the board 1 square at a time. Write the sentence on a
separate piece of paper. If you get the sentence right, you can stay on that space. If it is
wrong, you will go back to the previous space.

D. Evaluation:
The teacher give an exercise of definite and indefinite articles to the students.
Underline the correct answer.

1. Are you shopping for a /an/ the /no article needed health club to join so you
can get in shape?

2. Shop wisely! You could end up choosing a/ an/ the/no article needed wrong club
and losing more money than pounds.
3. You may find out too late that a/ an/ the/ no article needed health clubs aren't
for you.
4. a/ an/ the/ no article needed San Diego fitness experts recommend
thoroughly checking out several health clubs before you join one.
5. First, know what you want and need in a/ an/ the/ no article needed fitness
facility, and don't pay for what you'll never use.
6. If you only want exercise classes, a/ an/ the/ no article needed exercise studio
without weight machines and locker rooms may work for you.
7. If you're looking for a/ an/ the/ no article needed place to only do
bodybuilding, you'll be happy in a basic gym.
8. You may be in a/ an/ the/ no article needed market for a full-service health
club; then, make sure it offers lots of activities.
9. Look for a place near your house, and check out a/ an/ the/no article needed
exercise instructors and personal trainers.
10. They should be educated in physical education or certified by a/ an/ the/ no
article needed organization such as the American Council on exercise.

Reference:
Freeman D. (2004). Essential Linguistics: Teaching Reading, ESL, Spelling, Phonics, and
Grammar. Washington D.C.: Heinemann Publishing.
Answer Key:
B. Motivation
the united states
the boarder
the northwest corner
a town
the Puget Sound
a house
a street
the countryside
the street
the house
an English teacher
a school
the center
an Italian restaurant
the restaurant

C. Activity
1. a
2. the, the, the
3. a, a
4. the, a
5. the
6. an
7. a, a
8. the, the
9. the, the
10. a, a
11. the
12. a
13. an, an
14. the, the
15. the
D. Evaluation:
1. the
2. the
3. no article needed
4. the
5. a
6. the
7. a
8. a
9. the
10. an