The Use of A and An in English Grammar
YEAR 3 WORD
OBJECTIVE
Use of the forms a or an
according to whether the next
word begins with a consonant or
a vowel
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What is a consonant?
Most of the letters of the alphabet are consonants.
In speech, a consonant is a sound which is made by blocking the flow of air while
speaking. The sound may be blocked by the lips, tongue or teeth
.
B is a consonant letter. Try saying the letter b. Notice how you close your lips to
produce the sound.
F is also a consonant letter. Try saying the letter f. Notice how your bottom lip
touches your top teeth to produce the sound.
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Consonants
•
Try saying these consonant letters. Think
about what is happening to your lips, tongue
and teeth as you say them.
•
b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x y z
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What is a vowel?
•
In speech, vowels are sounds made with the mouth open and
the airway unobstructed.
•
In writing, the five letters below are vowels:
a e i o u
•
Y
may also be used to represent a vowel.
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Vowels
•
Try saying the vowel letters below. Think about what is
happening to your mouth as you say them.
a e i o u
•
Did you notice how your mouth remained open as you
formed each letter?
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a or an?
•
a
or
an
are used to introduce a noun or noun phrase
•
For example: a boy, an umbrella, an onion, a house, an enormous giant, a
tiny insect
•
a
is used if the word following it is a consonant (e.g.
a h
ouse).
•
an
is used if the word following it is a vowel (e.g.
an o
nion).
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Here are some examples of the use of
a
or
an.
a
before a consonant
•
a huge fire
•
a car
•
a magnificent castle
•
a vampire
•
a wonderful cake
•
a tiny mouse
•
a brave prince
an
before a vowel
•
an ant
•
an eagle
•
an interesting story
•
an unusual house
•
an ugly witch
•
an old man
•
an evil wizard
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Have a go!
•
Write a or an before
these words
•
egg
•
television
•
draw
•
huge monster
•
sunny day
•
ogre
•
apple
•
enormous garden
Reminder:
a
goes before consonant letters
b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x y z
an
goes before vowel letters
a e I o u
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How did you do?
•
an
egg
•
a
television
•
a
draw
•
a
huge monster
•
a
sunny day
•
an
ogre
•
an
apple
•
an
enormous garden
Reminder:
a
goes before consonant letters
b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x y z
an
goes before vowel letters
a e I o u
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Check the use of
a
and
an
in this text. Can you
spot any mistakes?
In the holidays, I went to a amazing beach with my family. It
was a really hot day so the weather was perfect!
My mum relaxed on a deck chair and read a book. My dad
helped my sister and I to make an sandcastle. Later, we all
went for an swim.
I found a unusual shell with a interesting pattern on it. My
sister found part of an slimy green plant which my mum said
was a piece of seaweed.
Dad bought everyone a ice-cream before we went home.
What an great day!
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How did you do?
In the holidays, I went to
an
amazing beach with my family. It
was a really hot day so the weather was perfect!
My mum relaxed on a deck chair and read a book. My dad
helped my sister and I to make
a
sandcastle. Later, we all
went for
a
swim.
I found
an
unusual shell with
an
interesting pattern on it. My
sister found part of
a
slimy green plant which my mum said
was a piece of seaweed.
Dad bought everyone
an
ice-cream before we went home.
What
a
great day!
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Reflection
Can you recall and list:
•
Letters which are consonants
•
Letters which are vowels
Discuss:
When would you use an?
When would you use a?
Use examples to help you explain
.
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To find more SPAG PPTS for year 3 visit:
https://primarytexts.co.uk/vocabulary-grammar-and-punctuation/
www.primarytexts.co.uk
Explore the concept of using "a" or "an" in English based on whether the following word starts with a consonant or a vowel. Learn about consonants and vowels, practice identifying them, and see examples of correct usage. Enhance your grammar skills with this engaging educational material.
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Presentation Transcript
YEAR 3 WORD OBJECTIVE Use of the forms a or an according to whether the next word begins with a consonant or a vowel www.primarytexts.co.uk
What is a consonant? Most of the letters of the alphabet are consonants. In speech, a consonant is a sound which is made by blocking the flow of air while speaking. The sound may be blocked by the lips, tongue or teeth. B is a consonant letter. Try saying the letter b. Notice how you close your lips to produce the sound. F is also a consonant letter. Try saying the letter f. Notice how your bottom lip touches your top teeth to produce the sound. www.primarytexts.co.uk
Consonants Try saying these consonant letters. Think about what is happening to your lips, tongue and teeth as you say them. b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x y z www.primarytexts.co.uk
What is a vowel? In speech, vowels are sounds made with the mouth open and the airway unobstructed. In writing, the five letters below are vowels: a e i o u Y may also be used to represent a vowel. www.primarytexts.co.uk
Vowels Try saying the vowel letters below. Think about what is happening to your mouth as you say them. a e i o u Did you notice how your mouth remained open as you formed each letter? www.primarytexts.co.uk
a or an? a or an are used to introduce a noun or noun phrase For example: a boy, an umbrella, an onion, a house, an enormous giant, a tiny insect a is used if the word following it is a consonant (e.g. a house). an is used if the word following it is a vowel (e.g. an onion). www.primarytexts.co.uk
Here are some examples of the use of a or an. an before a vowel a before a consonant a huge fire an ant a car an eagle a magnificent castle an interesting story a vampire an unusual house a wonderful cake an ugly witch a tiny mouse an old man a brave prince an evil wizard www.primarytexts.co.uk
Have a go! Write a or an before these words Reminder: a goes before consonant letters egg television b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x y z draw huge monster an goes before vowel letters sunny day ogre a e I o u apple enormous garden www.primarytexts.co.uk
How did you do? Reminder: an egg a television a goes before consonant letters a draw a huge monster b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x y z a sunny day an ogre an goes before vowel letters an apple an enormous garden a e I o u www.primarytexts.co.uk
Check the use of a and an in this text. Can you spot any mistakes? In the holidays, I went to a amazing beach with my family. It was a really hot day so the weather was perfect! My mum relaxed on a deck chair and read a book. My dad helped my sister and I to make an sandcastle. Later, we all went for an swim. I found a unusual shell with a interesting pattern on it. My sister found part of an slimy green plant which my mum said was a piece of seaweed. Dad bought everyone a ice-cream before we went home. What an great day! www.primarytexts.co.uk
How did you do? In the holidays, I went to an amazing beach with my family. It was a really hot day so the weather was perfect! My mum relaxed on a deck chair and read a book. My dad helped my sister and I to make a sandcastle. Later, we all went for a swim. I found an unusual shell with an interesting pattern on it. My sister found part of a slimy green plant which my mum said was a piece of seaweed. Dad bought everyone an ice-cream before we went home. What a great day! www.primarytexts.co.uk
Reflection Can you recall and list: Letters which are consonants Letters which are vowels Discuss: When would you use an? When would you use a? Use examples to help you explain. www.primarytexts.co.uk
To find more SPAG PPTS for year 3 visit: https://primarytexts.co.uk/vocabulary-grammar-and-punctuation/ www.primarytexts.co.uk
