Hello and welcome to Wednesday’s Words with English with Languissimo® which will help you improve your vocabulary so that you can communicate better in English.
My name is Vanessa Rocket. I’m the founder and CEO of Languissimo®.
Today, I will quickly cover the difference between “a/an” and “the”.
- “A” is an indefinite article. It is pronounced “a” as in the first letter of the alphabet or “uh”. It is used before a noun in the singular which starts with a consonant or a “you” sound. For example: a book, a university.
- “An” is also an indefinite article but it is used before a noun in the singular which starts with a vowel. For example, an egg, an orange.
- “The” is a definite article. It is used before a noun in the singular or in the plural. For example, the book, the universities.
When it is before a noun which starts with a vowel, “the” changes pronunciation and becomes “thee”. For example, the egg, the eggs.
“The” is also pronounced “thee” when you want to put an emphasis on what you’re saying. For example, “Would you like to speak English with me?” is the best, THE best e-book to speak English quickly.
Some Practice Questions
- Do you understand the difference between the indefinite and definite article?
- Do you have the best, THE best e-book to speak English quickly?
Ta da! That’s it for today! I hope you enjoyed this podcast. Subscribe to English with Languissimo®, practice, take care and have a great Wednesday! Big hugs 😊