Definite and indefinite articles

Hello everyone!

Today we will be looking at articles!!!
This is an easy topic but that is sometimes confusing because of the difference between Spanish and English, so we will be looking at many examples!

Indefinite articles. 

The indefinite articles, A or AN, are used when we are talking in general, without being specific about the thing or person that we are talking about.

It is used with SINGULAR COUNTABLE ITEMS!
To make it simple... if you can replace the articles A or AN for the word "one", you are on the right track!

Examples:

Over the summer, I will be looking for a job. (this means that you want ONE job, it doesn't matter what)

My sister has a beautiful dog. (this means that she has ONE beautiful dog, I'm not telling you what type of dog, just that she has ONE)

Now, it's important to know the difference between A and AN.
Overall, we use A before a CONSONANT = A CAT, and we used AN before a VOWEL = AN APPLE.

BUT!

We have to pay attention to the sounds of the words!

Definite article

The definite article, THE, is used when we are talking about a specific object. It doesn't matter if the object or person is singular or plural.

Examples:

Can you pass me the book that is on the table? (this means I want the specific book on the table!)
I lost the cellphone that my dad bought me. (not any cell phone, but a specific one)

Summary

Zero article

Sometimes we don't use A, AN or THE... we use NOTHING!

In these cases, we are talking about plural general things, uncoutable nouns or abstract nouns.

Examples:

I love dogs. (I don't use any article because I'm talking about ALL dogs, in general)

I drink coffee in the morning (I don't use an article because it is an uncountable noun, and I'm talking of coffee in general, not any specific coffee)

Love is a beautiful thing (I don't use any article because love is an abstract noun, and I'm speaking in general).

Video

Here's a video that can help you understand the topic a little more!

Practice!

Here are some exercises for you to practice!

Definite/indefinite articles ESL grammar quiz

Definite or indefinite articles exercises

Definite, indefinite or no article exercise

Snakes and ladders game

Rags to Riches game

A/An/The or nothing quiz

A/An/The basketball game


Ok, so that's it for today guys! Keep on practicing!

Past Continuous

Hello everyone!

How are you ?

Today, we will continue talking about the past tense, but now, we are going to be looking at the past continuous!!!

Past Continuous

The past continuous is used in different situations.

1. A past event or action that was going on at a certain point in time in the past.
What's important to note is that when using this tense, we are focusing on time or duration, not on the action itself!

Example:

Yesterday in the afternoon, I was watching a movie on TV.

2. Two events that were happening at the same time.

Example:

Last Friday, I was cooking dinner and my mom was cleaning the house.

3. An event that was happening and was interrupted by another. (Simple Past vs. Past Continuous)
The event that was happening is conjugated in Past Continuous, and the event that interrupted is conjugated in Simple Past.

Examples:

Two days ago, I was doing my homework when my dad asked me to help him.
My cousing were playing football, when my uncle brought them some drinks.

Conjugation

Practice time! 

Grammar exercise - past continuous

Online English grammar quiz - past continuous

Test on Past Progressive (continuous)

Past simple and past continuous practice video

Past simple or past continuous esl quiz

Past simple vs. past progressive betting game

Past continuous reading comprehension

Well, that's it for today! See you next time! 

Simple Past

Hello everyone!

Today we will be looking at the SIMPLE PAST!

Remember that the simple past is used to talk about finished events in the past; a sequence of past events or events that happened in an specific time in the past.

Conjugation of verbs

The conjugation of the verbs in the past is divided into two: Regular and Irregular.

Regular verbs

Regular verbs are conjugated by adding ED to the verb in the base form.

Pay attention!

When the verb finishes in E, we only add D
When the verb finishes in Y, and there is a consonant before it, we eliminate the Y, and add IED


REMEMBER THE PRONUNCIATION!!!

Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs change entirely when conjugated in the past. You need to memorize them!

Conjugation

The following chart shows you how to conjugate the verbs in the past to form sentences.

Pay attention! 

When writing a POSITIVE sentence, we change the verb to the PAST form, BUT when writing a sentence in the NEGATIVE or QUESTION form, the verb is in BASE form!

VIDEO

Now, here are some videos that can help you understand the topic a little bit better.

1. Past Simple: English Language

2. Past Simple Tense - English Grammar Tutorial Video Lesson

PRACTICE TIME

Here are some links where you can find exercises to practice using the SIMPLE PAST!

Past simple irregular verbs

Grammar exercises - Simple Past Tense

English Grammar Lessons - Past Simple

Perfect English Grammar - Past Simple

Irregular Past Simple Quiz Show

Past Simple Betting Game

Past Simple Basketball Game

So, this is the past!!!! Remember, practice makes perfect!

PRESENT SIMPLE VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Hello everyone!

Today we will be reviewing these two tenses!

Present Simple

It is used to talk about habits / routines. We often have adverbs of frequency in this type of sentence (e.g. often, usually, never, etc).

Remember the structure!

The verb in third person singular (he, she, it) in an affirmative sentence changes. We add an "s", an "es" or an "ies". 

But in negative and questions, we change the auxiliary DO to DOES, and the verb remains in its base form. 

EXAMPLES

1. Everyday I go to the store and buy milk.

2. My sisters drives to work from Monday to Friday

3. My parents don't cook dinner together.

4. Eric doesn't take singing classes. 

5. Do they eat meat?

6. Does she have a baby?

Present Continuous

It is used to talk about things that are happening in the moment. We often have words such as: right now, these days, in this moment, etc. 

Remember the structure!

We DO NOT use the auxiliary DO, we use the auxiliary BE. 

EXAMPLES

1. Right now, I'm reading an amazing book.

2. My sister isn't watching TV.

3. Are you taking any language classes these days?

VIDEOS

Here are some videos about these topics. 

Present Simple

Present Continuous

Present Simple and Present Continuous

PRACTICE TIME!

Present simple sentence monkey

Present progressive sentence monkey

Snakes and Ladders: Present Simple vs. Present Progressive

Simple present or present continuous exercise

Present simple or present continous

Ok guys, that's all for today....

Please write and tell me:

a) What's your routine? What do you do everyday?

b) What are you doing these days?

Welcome!

Hello everyone!

This page was made to give you (my students) extra practice and to provide you with resources that can help you succeed in the classroom.

In the resources tag, you can find some pages that I find interesting and can help you practice more or be more immerse in the language.

Besides these resources, remember to use the Richmond platform.