INTRODUCTION
TO
GRAMMAR
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
Your language learning
journey begins here.
Lesson 1:
• Singular and Plural Nouns
• The Articles – A and AN
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
Singular and Plural
Nouns
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; WARM-UP
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; WARM-UP
She has one calendar.
She has one water bottle.
She has one laptop.
She has one hamburger.
She has one ruler.
She has one key.
She has one calculator.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; WARM-UP
She has one book.
She has one apple.
She has one card.
She has one cell phone.
She has one eraser.
She has one pencil.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; WARM-UP
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; WARM-UP
I have two calendars.
I have two water bottles.
I have two laptops.
I have three hamburgers.
I have four keys.
I have three rulers.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; WARM-UP
I have three books.
I have two calculators.
I have five apples.
I have three cards.
I have two cell phones.
I have three erasers.
I have four pencils.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; WARM-UP
A. What can you see in this picture? Please choose the correct answers.
one chair one teacher
two chairs two teachers
eight chairs
ten desks six students
seven desks eight students
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; WARM-UP
B. What can you see in this picture? Please choose the correct answers.
one cart one customer
two carts eight customers
one basket four rolling
two baskets baskets
two rolling
baskets
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; WARM-UP
B. What can you see in this picture? Please choose the correct answers.
four lights one man
seven lights three men
one child one woman
three children five women
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; TEACHING TASKS
A noun is a word that indicates the name of something.
A noun can refer to:
• a person (e.g., Michael, teacher, police officer)
• a place (e.g., France, school, province)
• a thing or an activity (e.g., coffee, football, elevator)
• an animal (e.g., cat, dog, raccoon)
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; TEACHING TASKS
A noun is singular when it refers to one person, one thing, one place, or one animal.
one student one box one fish one man
one book one mouse one girl one dog one hospital
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; TEACHING TASKS
A noun is plural when it refers to two or more people, things, places, or animals.
In most cases a plural noun is formed by adding -s or -es (if the noun ends with -s, -x, -z, -ch, -sh).
Look at some of the examples below:
two students
thirteen books
three boxes
two dogs
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; TEACHING TASKS
Pronunciation of plural -s
Please notice that we pronounce the ending plural -s in three different ways.
1. /s/: If a noun ends with the sounds /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /θ/, the final -s is pronounced /s/.
Examples: /k/: books, /t/ : hats, /p/ : maps, /f/: roofs, /θ/: months
2. /z/: If a noun ends with the sounds /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /m/, /n/, /l/, / ŋ/, /r/, or a vowel sound
the final -s is pronounced /z/.
Examples: /b/: jobs, /d/: words, /g/: bags, /v/: gloves, /m/: dreams,
/n/: pens, /l/: falls, / ŋ/: songs, /r/: cars
Vowel sounds: sofas, spas, zebras, tomatoes, potatoes, peas
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; TEACHING TASKS
Pronunciation of plural –es
3. /iz/: If a noun ends with the sounds /s/, /z/, / ʒ/, / ʃ/, /tʃ/, / dʒ/, the final -s is pronounced /iz/.
Examples: /s/: buses, /z/: buzzes, /ʒ/: garages, /ʃ/: dishes, /tʃ/ : watches, /dʒ/: cages
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; TEACHING TASKS
However, remember that there are some irregular plural nouns that do not follow this rule.
Here are a few examples, and you will learn more in the next level.
a woman women a man men
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; TEACHING TASKS
However, remember that there are some irregular plural nouns that do not follow this rule.
Here are a few examples, and you will learn more in the next level.
a mouse mice
a child children
a fish fish
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS; LEARNING TASKS
Let’s practice! Give the plural forms of the following nouns.
1. one book - books
two _________________
2. one pen - two _________________
3. one snack - two _________________
4. one knee - two _________________
5. one textbook - two _________________
6. one screwdriver - two _________________
7. one skyscraper - two _________________
8. one hospital - two _________________
9. one accountant - two _________________
10. one elephant - two _________________
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
PRONUNCIATION; LEARNING TASKS
Let’s Practice! Read the following nouns out loud and put them in the right column according to
the pronunciation of the final –s.
boys cheques jackets cooks ending sound ending sound ending sound
/s/ /z/ /iz/
damages pens faces girls
graduates forks hours boxes
lessons spoons gloves messages
minutes leaves phrases places
products sandwiches things rats
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES
‘A’ AND ‘AN’
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; WARM-UP
Do you remember Natalie? Let’s go over the things she has in her backpack one more time.
Notice that this time we are replacing ‘one’ with ‘a’ or ‘an.’
Please identify the items and read them out loud.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; WARM-UP
She has a calendar.
She has a water bottle.
She has a laptop.
She has a hamburger.
She has a ruler.
She has a key.
She has a calculator.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; WARM-UP
She has a book.
She has an apple.
She has a card.
She has a cell phone.
She has an eraser.
She has a pencil.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; TEACHING TASKS
The articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ mean one or singular.
For example:
one notebook = a notebook
one orange = an orange
‘A’ is used with words that start with consonant sounds.
Consonant sounds: /b/, /c/, /d/, …
‘An’ is used with words that start with vowel sounds.
Vowel sounds: /a/ /e/,/i/, /o/, /u/
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; TEACHING TASKS
This is a book. This is a laptop. This is a notebook.
This is a car. This is a desk. This is a pen.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; TEACHING TASKS
This is a cell phone. This is a cup. This is a toothbrush.
This is a hospital. This is a chair. This is a dog.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; TEACHING TASKS
This is an apple. This is an elephant. This is an orange. This is an eagle.
This is an ice cream cone. This is an office. This is an umbrella. This is an eraser.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
Let’s Practice! Complete the sentences by using ‘a’ or ‘an’.
Examples:
an island.
Montreal is _____
a province.
Quebec is _____
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
1. _____ owl is _____ bird.
2. ILP is _____ English institute.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
3. This is _____ game controller.
4. This is _____ marker.
5. This is _____ image of the Old Port in Montreal.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
6. This is _____ maple leaf.
7. Hamid is _____ international student in Montreal.
8. This is _____ laptop.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
9. This is _____ door.
10. Simon is _____ popular name for boys.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
Let’s practice some more!
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. A car is _____________ (a vehicle / vehicles).
2. Buses are _____________ (a vehicle / vehicles).
3. Cars and buses are _____________ (a vehicle / vehicles).
4. An apple is _____________ (a fruit / fruits).
5. Oranges are _____________ (a fruit / fruits).
6. Apples and oranges are _____________ (a fruit / fruits).
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
B. Complete the following sentences using ‘a / an’ or ‘the plural forms.’
1. A bird is _____________ (a animal, an animal, animals).
2. Birds and cats are _____________ (a animal, an animal, animals).
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
3. A laptop is _____________ (a electronic device, an electronic device, electronic devices).
4. Laptops and cell phones are _____________ (a device, an device, devices).
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
5. A car is _____________ (a vehicle, an vehicle, vehicles)
6. Cars and trucks are _____________ (a vehicle, an vehicle, vehicles).
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
C. Complete the given sentences with ‘a’ or ‘an.’
1. This is _____ pear. 11. This is _____ fire hydrant.
2. This is _____ cookie. 12. She has _____ toothache.
3. She is _____ veterinarian. 13. He has _____ apartment.
4. He is _____ notary. 14. I have _____ office.
5. This is _____ oyster. 15. She has _____ earache.
6. This is _____ eggplant. 16. She is _____ artist.
7. He is _____ accountant. 17. He is _____ athlete.
8. She is _____ engineer. 18. He is _____ musician.
9. This is _____ bus stop. 19. She is _____ flight attendant.
10. This is _____ city hall. 20. She is _____ singer.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
D. What can you see in your classroom? Try to find both singular and plural items.
Examples:
I see a whiteboard.
I see three students
I see an eraser.
I see __________________.
I see __________________.
I see __________________.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
E. Let’s play the Memory Game!
Look at the image for 10 seconds. Then name as many items as you can remember.
The person or group that can name more items is the winner!
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
F. Let’s pair up!
Your partner will ask you to name something. Answer in a complete sentence.
Then, it is your turn to ask a similar question but use the plural noun.
Look at the examples below:
Partner A: Name a vehicle.
Partner B: A truck is a vehicle. Partner A Partner B
Partner A: Good job. A truck is a vehicle.
a vehicle two vehicles
Partner B: Name two vehicles.
Partner A: Trucks and buses are vehicles.
A truck and a bus are vehicles.
Partner B: Right! Trucks and buses are vehicles.
A truck and a bus are vehicles.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
Partner A: Name a tool. Partner A Partner B
a tool two tools
Partner B: A hammer is a tool.
Partner A: Good job. A hammer is a tool.
Partner B: Name two tools.
Partner A: Hammers and saws are tools.
A hammer and a saw are tools.
Partner B: Right! Hammers and saws are
tools. A hammer and a saw are
tools.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
ARTICLES ‘A’ AND ‘AN’; LEARNING TASKS
Partner A: Name an electronic device. Partner A Partner B
Partner B: _________ is an electronic device. an electronic two electronic
device devices
Partner A: Good job.
_________ is an electronic device. a household two household
appliance appliances
Partner B: Name two electronic devices.
Partner A: ___________ electronic devices. an animal two animals
___________ electronic devices. a fruit two fruits
Partner B: Right!
a vegetable two vegetables
___________ electronic devices.
___________ electronic devices.
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
GRAMMAR REVIEW
Nouns are names of people, places, things and animals.
Nouns can be singular or plural. Most plural nouns are formed by adding –s or –es to the noun.
We use the articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ for singular nouns.
We use the article ‘a’ before a word that begins with a consonant sound.
We use the article ‘an’ before a word that begins with a vowel sound.
an apple three apples
INSTITUT LINGUISTIQUE PROVINCIAL
