This topic deals with the grammar point: the indefinite article a / an to describe a more general noun. There is a content section and four activities: reading, writing, listening and speaking. It is important to do the activities as follows: First, the reading and the listening texts will help you with the production of the writing and the speaking. At the end of the topic, there is a quiz to assess what you have learned.
A / an shows that we are talking about one person or thing (a/an=1), we often use a/an:
• in descriptions:
She's a beautiful girl.
He has an interesting job.
• When we say what something is, or what somebody's job is:
This is a book.
I'm an architect.
In this topic, you will study this second use:
This is a book
Unsaplash. (n.d). Book. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://www.pexels.com/photo/blur-old-antique-book-213/
I 'm an architect.
Geralt. (2014). Architect. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/arquitecto-pared-de-la-imagen-529674/
By the end of this topic you will:
Use the indefinite article a/an to name people when exchanging information about someone's occupation.
First, it is essential to learn some words to talk about occupations. Click on each image to listen and repeat each word to practice pronunciation.
Canon. (n.d.) Finance.[Photo]. Retrieved from: goo.gl/3BXXRF
Skeeze (2014) Actor.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vfeljD
Hans. (2010) Painter.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2w3mANl
Geralt. (2014) Architect.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vkzc4N
Unsaplash. (n.d.) Athlete.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2uZNWGg
Mtaylor848. (2015). Bank. [Photo]. Retrieved from:https://goo.gl/Vtemby
Lillico, J. (2010) Finance.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vfZsOg
Navy photo. (2010) Finance.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2w3317W
Tolley, t. (2010) Dentist.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vfEzmb
Frank. (2013) Doctor.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vkxnF5
NASA. (n.d.) Engineer.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2uVy1H1
Neromare. (n.d.) Hairdresser.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2wi3hiO
Villalobos, H. (1974) Housewife.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vk8pFS
Engels, A. (2015) Journalist.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2g8EjiA
n.a. (2015) Lawyer.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2hl78c3
n.a. (2016) Manager.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2hk1XJB
Jose, H. (2011) Model.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2uVz1Lh
n.a. (n.d.) Musician.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2uVWk7x
Rebeca. (2016) Nurse.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2c8eHeP
eviver, C. (2009) Photographer.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2w32bYH
Griffit, A. (2009) Police officer..[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vfwmhKg
n.a. (2008) Barack.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vfomh2
Bench, E. (2008) Desk.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2u0x2YG
n.a. (2013) Salesman.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2uRIxAq
Navatril, J. (2015) Scientist.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vpUdvJ
n.a. (2016) Photographer.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vk9FsA
Sebastian, M. (2008) Singer.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2tWhSjc
Abhattarai7. (2014) Photographer.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2w2DY57
Taty. (2013) Students.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2hkpR7L
Sevilla, S. (2013) Taxi.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vkt24A
Foghorn, F. (2009) A teacherr.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vg0c65
Oggiono. (2015) Veterinarian.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2tWEMXw
n.a. (2010) Waiter.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2f5rTb2
White, J. (1973) Writer.[Photo]. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2vfGSWt
We use an before a vowel sound.
Be careful. We choose a or an based on the pronunciation, not spelling. Click and listen.
Be careful. In Spanish, when we say what job somebody does, we usually say: Soy estudiante. Mi hermana es enfermera. Johnny Depp es actor.
In English we always need to use the article a/an when we talk about somebody's occupation:
I'm student.
I'm a student.
My sister is nurse.
My sister is a nurse.
Johnny Depp is actor.
Johnny Depp is an actor.
When you want to ask what occupation someone has, you can ask:
A: What do you do? / What's your occupation?
B: I'm a student.
Remember that a/an = 1. We use a/an to talk about one person or one thing. Don't use a/an to talk about more than one person or thing.
We’re a students.
We’re students
My sisters are a nurses.
My sisters are nurses.
Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt are an actors.
Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt are actors.
Canada and China are a big countries.
Canada and China are big countries
An elephant and a giraffe are an animals.
An elephant and a giraffe are animals.
Activity 1
In this activity, you will read about five famous people who have more than one job. Read the texts and identify the occupation of each person. Then read the ten sentences and choose True or False according to the text. You will know your result at the end of the activity.
Activity 2
In this activity, you will write a short paragraph about a famous person who has more than one job. Before this activity, it is essential to do the reading activity.
First, read the description of the celebrities who do more than one job.
Second, think of a famous person who has more than one job. You can use the Internet to find some information.
Third, write a short paragraph saying who the person is and what jobs he or she has. You can use the descriptions in the Reading activity as models. Use between 25 and 30 words to write your paragraph.
Please make sure that your description has all the characteristics contained in the rubrics.
Activity 3
Chrome76. (2016). Handshake. Retrieved form: https://pixabay.com/es/mano-las-manos-apret%C3%B3n-de-manos-1311786/
In this activity, you will listen to three conversations where people meet for the first time in different situations. Listen to the conversations and identify the occupation each person has. Then listen again, and match each speaker to his/her profession. Drag each profession to the correct place. There are two occupations you don't need to use.
To hear the audio click here:
Activity 4
In this activity, you will create a conversation between people who are meeting for the first time. Before this activity, it is essential to do the listening activity.
First, relisten to the three conversations from the previous activity with the help of the script.
Second, look at the images below. Choose one image and create a conversation for the people. The people should introduce themselves and talk about their occupations.
Example
When you have finished, check the rubrics and its different columns. Include each of the aspects in these descriptions to obtain the highest score in every criterion. Tick them off as you consider them accomplished.
NOTE: This conversation has two or three characters. You can take the roles of the people and change the intonation or the voice for each character. You could also use a speech reader and interact with the software to role-play the conversation. You can try using this website: ttsreader
This quiz checks the use of the indefinite articles a/an to say what occupation somebody has.
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