INSTITUTO SUPERIOR UNIVERSITARIO

ORIENTE
MODULE Nº 1 UNIT Nº 1 THEME Nº 4
TEACHING GUIDE
Subject: English
Teacher: Alexandra Bermeo Urbina
Email: ajbermeo@itsoriente.edu.ec
Theme: A/an, plurals
Skills to be developed: A/an, plurals

Topic 1: A/an, plurals – grammar chart

Table of contents:

1. A/an, plurals – grammar chart

2. A/an
3. Plurals in English

Developed

1. 1. A/an, plurals – grammar chart

A/an

We use a/an with singular nouns.

 This is a table.
 It’s an orange.

We use a with nouns beginning with a consonant, and we use an with nouns beginning
with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u).

 Give me an apple.
 There is an elephant in the zoo.
 It’s an amazing experience.

We also use an with nouns beginning with h if the h is not pronounced. But we use a if
the h is pronounced.

 Give me an hour. (The h is not pronounced in hour.)

 I want to buy a hat. (The h is pronounced in hat.)

We use a and NOT an with nouns beginning with u when it is pronounced /ju:/,
like university.

 Is there a university in this city?

 I wear a uniform.

Plurals in English
A tablesWe do NOT use a/an with plural nouns.

 These are tables. (NOT a tables)

Regular plurals

We add -s to make plural nouns in English. Sometimes we need to add -es, -ies or –ves.
Check the spelling in the grammar chart above.

Irregular plurals

Some words have irregular plurals and do NOT add -s to make their plural form.

HOMEWORK ((Complete page 3)

Click on the follow link: https://test-english.com/grammar-points/a1/a-an-plurals/3/

CLASS ACTIVITY
Exercise 1

Choose a/an for the following words.

1It's an / a animal.
2I need an / a new bed.
3It's an / a useful machine.
4I'm an / a waiter.
5Do you have an / a umbrella?
6I'm an / a English teacher.
7I need an / a hat.
8Is she an / a student?
9We have an / a ugly duck.
10I need an / a hour.

Exercise 2

Write the plurals of the following singular words.

EXAMPLE: A nice sofa ⇒ nice sofas

1a university ⇒ ________________
2a sandwich ⇒ _______________
3a street ⇒ ________________
4a rich man ⇒ rich ____________
5one foot ⇒ two _________
6a dirty bag ⇒ dirty ____________
7an expensive watch ⇒ expensive __________
8a new phone ⇒ new _________
9a nice photograph ⇒ nice _____________
10One glass of wine ⇒ two _________ of wine

Resources web
 https://test-english.com/grammar-points/a1/a-an-plurals/3/