A Dog…The Dog: Articles in Mini-Stories

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A Dog…The Dog: Articles in Mini-Stories

By the end: I can introduce something and refer to it again clearly.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Introduce one thing

Use a or an when you introduce one new countable thing to your listener.

There’s a dog outside.

I have an old bicycle.

Lesson scene for There's a dog outside. People and essential props on white.
There’s a dog outside.A dog introduces a new singular thing.

Refer to the same thing

Use the when your listener knows which thing you mean from the story.

The dog is small.

The bicycle is blue.

Introduce another thing

A new object can use a/an even after the story begins. Use the only when its identity is clear.

The dog is near a tree.

The tree is next to my house.

Track each newly introduced thing separately

The animala dog → the dog

There’s a dog outside. The dog is near a tree.

The new treea tree → the tree

The dog is near a tree. The tree is next to my house.

The dog is already identified when a tree enters the story. A/an can introduce a new item in a later sentence; it is not limited to the first sentence.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Compare form and meaning with the model.

1. Begin a story: There is ___ bird on the wall.

Compare a model and explanation

a

The bird is newly introduced.

2. Continue: ___ bird is yellow.

Compare a model and explanation

The

The same bird is now identifiable.

3. Begin: I have ___ old radio.

Compare a model and explanation

an

Old begins with a vowel sound.

4. Continue: ___ radio is in my room.

Compare a model and explanation

The

Refer back to the introduced radio.

5. Correct the reference: I see a dog. A dog is brown. You mean the same dog.

Compare a model and explanation

I see a dog. The dog is brown.

The keeps the reference to the same animal.

6. Add a new person: The boy is with ___ teacher.

Compare a model and explanation

a

Introduce a teacher not yet identified.

7. Continue: ___ teacher has a red bag.

Compare a model and explanation

The

Refer back to that teacher.

8. Write three sentences: introduce a café, describe it, add a new table.

Compare a model and explanation

There’s a café here. The café is small. There’s a table outside.

Other clear three-sentence stories are acceptable.

A short conversation

Listen first, then open the transcript when useful.

Open the conversation transcript

A: There’s a new café near my house.

B: Is the café nice?

A: Yes. There’s a little garden behind it.

B: Let’s sit in the garden.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have a separate score.

1. What is new?
Read the listening transcript

I have a bike and a car. The bike is old, but the car is new.

2. Which dog is sleeping?
Read the listening transcript

There’s a dog by a tree. The dog is sleeping.

3. What is small?
Read the listening transcript

There’s a shop on my street. The shop has a café. The café is small.

Lesson scene for The dog is small. People and essential props on white.
The dog is small.The dog refers back to the same animal.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. No bird has been mentioned. Begin: There’s ___ bird here.
2. Continue: There’s a bird here. ___ bird is blue.
3. Begin a new story: I see ___ elephant.
4. Continue: I see an elephant. ___ elephant is near the water.
5. A new bench is added: The girl sits on ___ bench.
6. Which story clearly keeps one cat?
7. Continue: I buy a book. The book has ___ interesting story.
8. Can the be used on a first mention when both people know which item is meant?

Use it in your own words

Speaking 1

Introduce an object and describe the same object.

Reveal a possible response

I have a watch. The watch is old.

Success check: Use a/an, then the.

Speaking 2

Add a second object to a short story.

Reveal a possible response

There’s a café. The café has a garden. The garden is small.

Success check: Keep both references clear.

Put it all together

Tell a four-sentence mini-story with two new things.

Reveal a possible response

There’s a dog outside. The dog is near a box. The box is open. The dog looks inside.

Success check: Help the listener know which thing each the refers to.

Take it with you

I can introduce something and refer to it again clearly.

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