A, An and Plurals: practical A1 early English

Count what is beside you

Find one pen and two books, cups or keys. Say “a pen” for one item, then “two books” or “two keys” for several. The number already tells your listener that the noun is plural.

Listen to the first sound, not the first letter

Use a before one countable noun that begins with a consonant sound: a book, a phone, a university. Use an before a vowel sound: an apple, an engineer, an hour. “University” begins with a y sound, so it takes a. “Hour” begins with a vowel sound because the h is silent, so it takes an.

For more than one regular item, add -s: book becomes books. Some common plurals change: man becomes men, woman becomes women, and child becomes children. Learn these three now because they appear often. This is only a first pass. Later lessons return to articles, so an occasional a or an error should not stop your speaking.

Articles do not exist in Urdu in the same way

Hear the start, then count

Say six pairs without pausing

1. Read: a book, two books.
2. Continue with apple, man, woman, child and hour.
3. Record the six pairs, then add three from your room.

Connect this, these and the noun

Complete aloud: This is ___ pen. These are two ___. That is ___ apple. Those are three ___. He is ___ teacher.