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Lesson Plan February 6, 2026

Topic: Articles & other words before nouns

In this lesson we will learning about using articles (a & the) before nouns. We will also learn about using both and all, every, other, another and no before nouns.

Section A: Some uses of “a” and “the”

You use the when

• it is clear which person or thing you are talking about

  • I cleaned the street in front of my house this morning.

  • I put the mail on the dining table.

• there is only one of these people or things

  • The Canadian Prime Minister gave a good speech last week.

  • The moon was very bright the other night.

You use a when

• you have not talked about something before

  • I got together with a friend for lunch today.

  • I think I need a new phone.

• you say what jobs people do

  • My bother runs a clothing store for men.

  • She’s training to be a doctor.

Sometimes there is no article before a noun

• She’s …

  • at work / at home / in bed / at (school / college / university), in hospital / in prison / in church

• I’m going to …

  • work / bed / (school / college / university) / hospital / prison / church

BUT

• She’s at …

  • the cinema / the theatre / the bank / the post office / the doctor’s / the dentist’s

• My aunt’s not very well. She’s in hospital.

• I’ll be at school until 6 p.m. today.

• Anna’s going to the cinema this evening with her friends.

Section B: Words use to express quantity (how much)

You use both and all before a plural noun. You only use both to describe two people or things.

• I watched two movies last night. They were both fantastic.

• I really want to go to the party. All my friends will be there.

• He spent all his money at the shopping centre.

You use every before a singular noun

• We go to Spain on holiday every year.

You use another before a singular noun and other before a plural noun. You can use words like some, any, many, and lots of before other.

• Would you like another drink?

• Don’t worry. There’ll be some other people you know there.

• Have you visited any other countries?

Remember: No and Any

• I haven’t got any time to do my homework. (negative verb)

• I’ve got no time to do my homework. (posivite verb)

Lesson Notes

Words & Phrases

• Who ate ehomaki on Setsubun? (Use this when you expect that someone did eat it)

• Did anyone eat ehomaki on Setsubun? (Use this when you don’t know if anyone did)

• You have to be careful not to choke!

• Trying to eat something that large and long seems like a choking hazard for some people.

Grammar

• Is it going to snow tomorrow? (NOT “does it snow”)

• Used for predictions about a specific time

• Often based on weather forecasts, clouds, or expectations

• We would only use “does” when talking about a pattern

• Does it snow in Tokyo in winter?

Articles & other words before nouns

• The northern lights is the common term for "aurora borealis”

• “Get water all over (something)” means to make something wet in many places, often accidentally.

• British English (and often Canadian English) sometimes drops “the” when the focus is on the purpose or function of a place. American English usually keeps “the”.

• Mark was ill and had to go to hospital. (This focuses on medical care as a patient)

• When you mean a specific building, everyone uses the:

• I’m going to the hospital to visit my friend.

• The meeting is at the school on Main Street.

• “Which house do you live in, (a / an / the) green house or (a / an / the) blue house?”

• The correct and natural choice is: “Which house do you live in, the green house or the blue house?”

• You’re talking about two specific houses that both the speaker and listener can see or already know about, so we use “the”

• This is very heavy. Please use both your hands to carry it. (NOT your both hands)

• In English, both comes before possessive adjectives like my, your, his, her

• both your eyes / both his feet / both her hands