1. Understanding Articles

• Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific.
• The two main articles in English are “a” and “an.”

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2. When to Use “A”

• Use “a” before words that begin with a consonant sound.
• Examples:
  • A cat
  • A dog
  • A house
  • A university (the “u” in university sounds like a “y” which is a consonant sound)

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3. When to Use “An”

• Use “an” before words that begin with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).
• Examples:
  • An apple
  • An elephant
  • An ice cream
  • An hour (the “h” is silent, so it begins with a vowel sound)

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4. Remembering the Rules

• Focus on the sound of the first letter, not just the letter itself.
• If the first sound is a vowel sound, use “an.”
• If the first sound is a consonant sound, use “a.”

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5. Practice

• Provide a list of words for students to categorize under “A” or “An.”
• Example Words for Practice:
  1. Apple (An)
  2. Dog (A)
  3. Orange (An)
  4. Ball (A)
  5. Hour (An)