Starters:

Nouns and noun markers

Words that name persons, places and things are called nouns. The words "a", "an" and "the" are noun markers. They are also known as indefinite articles (a, an) and definite article (the). Noun markers signal that a noun will soon appear in the sentence you write or read.

"A", the indefinite article is used before a word that begins with a consonant sound.

Examples: a pen, a bus, a tree, a cake, a car, a pencil, a table

"An" is used before a word that begins with a vowel sound.

Examples: an umbrella, an onion, an uncle, an umpire, an Indian, an owl

"The" is used before words beginning with a consonant sound or vowel sound.

Examples: the sky, the moon, the earth, the boy, the uncle, the aunt

Working it through

Rewrite the following sentences putting in the relevant noun markers:

1. Neil and Uncle Fred went to market.

2. We rowed boat to island in Bolgoda River.

3. Nayana bought camera at airport.

4. She took picture of monkey with her camera.

5. I have never seen animal with such long nose.

Key

1. Neil and Uncle Fred went to the market.

2. We rowed a boat to an island in the Bolgoda River.

3. Nayana bought a camera at the airport.

4. She took a picture of a monkey with her camera.

5. I have never seen an animal with such a long nose.

Fill in the blanks with 'a' or 'an'.

1. Muriel is -- artist.

2. She drew -- picture of -- goat.

3. She also painted -- elephant pulling -- log.

4. Joseph carries -- walking stick.

5. The sun looked like -- bright red spot in the sky.

Key

1. Muriel is an artist.

2. She drew a picture of a goat.

3. She also painted an elephant pulling a log.

4. Joseph carries a walking stick.

5. The sun looked like a bright red spot in the sky.

When a noun begins with a vowel, but does not give a vowel sound, use 'a' before it.

Examples: a university, a union, a unicorn.

When a noun begins with a consonant but gives a vowel sound, use 'an' before it.

Examples: an honest man

an honour

an heir