4th Lesson: Definite & Indefinite Article II

Now, how's the exercises and games links in the previous entry??...Have you guys try it?I hope that you have had a rough idea, how definite and indefinite article works! okay? So now in this entry I will explain the use of definite as well as indefinite article. 

Alright, let us start with indefinite article. Shall we?

note: p.c.n = plural countable noun, s.c.n = singular countable noun, d.a = definite article, i.a = indefinite article

1. Use a or an to introduce a singular count noun. There is or there are often begins a sentence or clause that introduces a noun with an indefinite article.
   Woman: did you see a little boy walk by here five minutes ago?
   Police officer: I’m not sure. What does he look like?
     Woman: he has brown hair, and there’s a big soccer ball on his sweatshirt
2. Use some or Ø (no article) to introduce p.c.n or n.c.n.
   I need some batteries for my camera.
   I called for some information.
   I need Ø batteries for my camera.
   I called for Ø information.  
3. When a speaker uses an indefinite article, the noun is not a specific thing in the mind of the listener. In the speaker’s mind, however, sometimes the noun is specific and sometimes it is not.
   
   Bob: I bought a new car. ( bob has a specific car in mind, but the listener doesn’t)
   Bob: I need a new car.(Neither bob nor the listener  have a specific car in mind) 
      

Definite article, 

1. Use the to refer to a noun that both you and a listener can identify. This is possible when you and the listener share information about the noun.
2. Use the d.a after a noun has already been introduced with an i.a.
   Introduced ( with i.a)
   I bought koji a sweater and a watch for his birthday.
   
   
   Mentioned again ( with d.a)
   The sweater doesn’t fit and the watch doesn’t work!  
                
3. Use the d.a when you and a listener share general knowledge about sth in your environment.
   
   
   
   Noun of General Knowledge
   A: Oh no! The copy machine is broken again!
   B: I can’t believe it!
        (Both workers use a particular copy machine, so they know which one is broken Noun Identified in Sentence 
   Use the d.a when other information in the sentence identifies the noun.
   Turn off the light near the door (The phrase near the door tells which light)
   Please hand me the book about England.(The phrase about England tells which book)
   
   

   4. Use the d.a with certain nouns (store, doctor, hospital, movies, bank, park, TV, telephone) that are familiar to you and the listener.

   
   

   Familiar nouns.

   
   

   A: I’m going to the doctor this morning. Can I borrow your car?

   B: Sure.

   
   

   A: hello. I’m here to see Ms. Stephen.

   B: I’m sorry, she’s on the telephone. Would you like to wait and sit down?

   
   

   5. Use d.a for a noun that is unique (the only one of its type)

   
   

   
   

   Unique Noun

   
   

   The earth revolves around the sun.

   Tokyo is the capital Japan.

   
    So, that is all for today's lesson on i.a and d.a...=)

Lesson Plan II : Adjective - Famous People ( Form 2 Advanced)

Set Induction:

•   Teacher greets the students 
•    Teacher recaps briefly about the previous lesson
•  Teacher asks the students whether they have favorite famous person/icon. 
•  Teacher points out her own favorite famous person. 
•  Students responds appropriately.

Development:

Activity 1

• Teacher shows a picture of Dato’ Lee Chong Wei- Malaysian famous badminton player.
• Teacher asks student’s opinion about Dato’ Lee Chong Wei.
• Students responds

 

Activity 2 

•   Teacher then jots down the students’ answer.
• Teacher demonstrates to students on how to make a mind map
• In the mind map, teacher put three main criteria of main subject (Lee Chong Wei) which are physical traits, attributes and achievement
• Teacher divides the students into 3 big groups according to the 3 main features of the subject.
• Each group will have to construct a paragraph according to the aspects they are assigned to.
• They have to write the paragraph on mahjong papers provided.
• The introduction and conclusion of the essay is provided by the teacher. 
• Teacher allocates time for students to finish their work.

Activity 3

• After they have finish the teacher asks the students to paste it on the whiteboard in sequence.
• Teacher edits the sequence with students.

CONCLUSION.

• Teacher sums up and recaps the lesson.

Follow-up Activity : Students have to find their own famous icon and draw a mind map, based on the lesson today. The mind map are to pasted in their exercise books.

Datuk Lee Chong Wei, #1 badminton player in the world

Tun Dr. Mahathir, Former Prime Minister of Malaysia

Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysia's songbird

Lesson Plan I: Adjective - Form 2 Lower Intermediate & Beginner

Set Induction:

• Teacher enters the class and greets the students.
• Teacher compliment students using adjectives. e.g. "Alin, you have a pretty pencil case"
• After that, the teacher ask students what are the words that she uses to describe the noun. 
• The students respond, by saying out loud the words.
• Teacher ask student what category the words belong to. The students answers appropriately.

Development:

Activity 1

• Teacher shows a video of adjective. 
• Students are to watch, listen and jot down adjective words identified in the video. 
• The answers are discussed.

 

Activity 2

• Teacher asks students to construct sentences using the adjectives found in the video
• Teacher will point out students to read aloud their answers

CONCLUSION:

• Teacher sums up and recaps the lesson.

Follow-up Activity :Students are to find songs that contains adjectives and they have to post it in their blog.

PRACTICE:

• Adjective Exercise 1
• Adjective Exercise 2
• Adjective Exercise 3

3rd lesson: Definite and Indefinite Articles 1

Okay, for today's lesson I am going to discuss on articles which are a, an, the. Btw, have you guys tried the exercises on the links I've given??...hopefully you did. =)

Articles in English are divided into two -----> DEFINITE & INDEFINITE. By the meaning I guess you may have known the use of them?...

  

DEFINITE = the

INDEFINITE = a, an

When I was at school I also had trouble to differentiate the use of these two articles. So, what I did was I distinguished them by the sounds of the word, when we say the word 'the', it sounds so strong and precise, therefore I assumed that it is for things that are specific and DEFINITE while a/an they sounds a bit weak and unstable (if you guys know what I'm saying), thus I used it for general and INDEFINITE objects. So through that I know how to use them, the definite and indefinite articles. This is just my way of learning, it is up to you to apply or not, ok? =)

I think I will provide links for the articles exercises first, so that you get the rough idea of the whole thing. Later, in the next entry I will teach you when to use this definite and indefinite. Practice makes perfect!...so try answer the quizzes and play games as well, and see how much you score!....=)

Exercises,

• Cloze Passage
• Article Exercise
• Article Cloze
• Article Exercise 2 

Fun Games,

• Snake & Ladder
• HoopShoot 

So, till then my fellow buddiesss!! =))

Just a Random Encounter!

While browsing through Youtube to find some videos for my next entry, I came across this wonderful short clip of Mr Morton~ It teaches you the subject and the predicate of a sentence in a form of SONG. The song is quite catchy too! So enjoy!

2nd lesson: The Use of Countable & Uncountable Noun~

Hello there!! hopefully the previous entry helps you in some ways~ =)...and I would like to apologize for the typo error in the analogy of cake batter and pieces of cake! Don't worry I have corrected it~ =) 

Alright! Now let us move on to the uses of countable and uncountable nouns. Where, how and when to use it~ 

 

USES OF COUNTABLE & UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS.

Pluralizing

THE RULE~

From the definitions of mass and count given above you may have already guessed the rule for pluralizing them:

• most countable nouns pluralize with -s - e.g. chairs, bags, books
• Uncountable nouns don't pluralize at all - e.g. food, equipment, furniture,

This rule works for all of the nouns in the lists of examples in the first section. You can check this rule for yourself before reading further. =)

An Exception to the Rule

For a number of nouns, the rule needs slight revision. Certain nouns in English belong to both classes: they have both a uncountable and a countable meaning. Normally the uncountable meaning is abstract and general and the count meaning concrete and specific. Okay, let us see the comparison:

Countable

• I've had some difficulties finding a job. (refers to a number of specific problems)
• The talks will take place in the Krannert building. (refers to a number of specific lectures)
• The city was filled with bright lights and harsh sounds. (refers to a number of specific lights and noises)

Noncountable

• She succeeded in school with little difficulty. (refers to the general idea of school being difficult)
• I dislike idle talk. (refers to talking in general)
• Light travels faster than sound. (refers to the way light and sound behave in general)  

To summarize, we may put the rule in a chart, like this:

	Pluralizes with -s	Doesn't Pluralize
Countable Noun	XX
Countable Use	XX
Uncountable Noun		XX
Uncountable Use		XX

How is it so far??..if you have any difficulties (a countable noun..hehe), please do ask okay?... Till then..ciao!

ou! I almost forgot..below are some links that you can visit,if you want to do exercises! Good Luck!

• Grammar Exercise - Countable and Uncountable Nouns
• Quiz: Count or Non-Count?
• Countable or Non-Countable Nouns

P/S In the case of uncountable & countable meaning in certain nouns, the key to differentiate them is through READING & READING & READING~ and eventually you will get use to them and knows to which type of noun they belong to~ =)

1st Lesson: Countable & Uncountable Noun

Alright, our first lesson will start on the COUNTABLE and UNCOUNTABLE nouns. Sometimes you may wonder how to differentiate these two?...is "equipment" a uncountable noun? what about "food"?

So let us begin with the definitions in order to understand more, shall we??

 

COUNTABLE OR UNCOUNTABLE??

The main difference between countable and uncountable nouns is whether you can count the things they refer to or not.

Countable nouns refer to things that exist as separate and distinct individual units. They usually refer to what can be perceived by the senses.

Examples:

table chair word

finger remark girl

bottle award candidate

Example sentences:

I stepped in a puddle.	How many puddles did you step in? Just one.
I drank a glass of milk.	Glasses of milk can be counted
I saw an apple tree.	Apple trees can be counted

  

Uncountable nouns refer to things that can't be counted because they are thought of as wholes that can't be cut into parts. They often refer to abstractions and occasionally have a collective meaning (for example, furniture).

Examples:

anger furniture warmth

courage education leisure

progress weather precision

Example Sentences:

I dove into the water.  How many waters did you dive into?	The question doesn't make any sense; therefore water is noncountable.)
I saw the milk spill.  How many milks?	Milk cannot be counted.)
I admired the foliage. How many foliages?	Foliage cannot be

Think of the butter from which a cake is made. Before you put the butter into the oven, it can't be divided into parts because it's a thick liquid. Once it has been baked, it becomes solid enough to be cut into pieces. ; 

 

Countable nouns are like pieces of cake that can be count 1, 2 and 3

Uncountable nouns are like cake batter that cannot be count literally one by one the mixture! =)

                     simple right??....till then =)