Lesson Plan on Articles for Upper-Intermediate Students

Introduction

Understanding the correct usage of articles (definite, indefinite, and zero articles) is a critical aspect of mastering English grammar, especially for upper-intermediate students. Articles often present challenges due to the subtle distinctions between when to use ‘the’, ‘a/an’, or no article at all. This lesson plan aims to clarify these distinctions and provide students with the tools they need to use articles confidently in both spoken and written English.

This lesson is inspired by one of Scott Thornbury’s grammar activities from his book, How to Teach Grammar (1999). While the activity employs a deductive approach to teaching grammar rules, it encourages students to take ownership of their learning and promotes active communication and information sharing within the classroom.

Definite And Indefinite Articles Worksheet PDF With Answers

Lesson Plan on Articles: Overview

The Procedure of the Activity

The activity is structured around the usage of the definite article, indefinite article, and zero article (no article). It consists of four stages:

1. Assigning an Exercise in Groups
2. Providing Groups with Grammar Summaries
3. Regrouping Students
4. Checking Answers

1. Assigning the Exercise in Groups (5 minutes)

Begin by dividing the class into three groups. Assign each group a gap-fill exercise where students must decide whether to use ‘the’, ‘a/an’, or no article (‘0’). To encourage collaboration and ensure equal participation, number the students within each group (e.g., Student 1, Student 2, Student 3, etc.).

Example Gap-Fill Sentences:

1. Are you coming to ___ party next Saturday?
2. I bought ___ new TV set yesterday.
3. I think ___ man over there is very ill. He can’t stand on his feet.
4. I watched ___ video you had sent me.
5. She was wearing ___ ugly dress when she met him.
6. I am crazy about reading ___ history books.
7. She is ___ nice girl.
8. Do you want to go to ___ restaurant where we first met?
9. He is ___ engineer.
10. He thinks that ___ love is what will save us all.

At this stage, students should rely on their current knowledge to complete the exercise without any assistance. This challenge encourages them to hypothesize about article usage, creating a genuine need to understand the rules, which will be addressed in the next stage.

2. Grammar Summaries (10 minutes)

After the initial exercise, provide each group with a grammar summary that focuses on one type of article:

• Group 1: Rules about definite articles
• Group 2: Rules about indefinite articles
• Group 3: Rules about the zero article

Students should review the grammar summaries and then attempt the exercise again, applying the rules they have just learned. This step reinforces their understanding and allows them to correct any errors made in the first attempt.

Example Grammar Summary:

• Definite Article (‘the’): Used for specific items known to both the speaker and listener.
• Indefinite Article (‘a/an’): Used for nonspecific items or when mentioning something for the first time.
• Zero Article: Used when speaking about things in general or abstract concepts.

Here is a link to a more detailed grammar lesson about article in English:

• Use of articles in English

3. Regrouping the Students (10 minutes)

Next, reorganize the students into new groups so that each group contains members from the original groups (e.g., Group A: Student 1 from each original group, Group B: Student 2 from each original group, etc.).

The new groups consist of members of each of the original groups as follows:

• Group A: Student 1 + student 1 + student 1 + student 1…
• Group B: Student 2 + student 2 + student 2 + student 2…
• Group C: Student 3 + student 3 + student 3 + student 3…
• Group D: Student 4 + student 4 + student 4 + student 4…

In these new groups, students compare their answers and discuss the rules they have learned. Encourage them to explain why they chose specific articles and clarify any confusing points.

4. Checking Answers (10 minutes)

Conclude the activity by reviewing the answers as a class. Ask students to justify their choices using the rules from the grammar summaries. This step ensures that any remaining misunderstandings are resolved and reinforces the correct usage of articles.

Extension Activity

For homework, ask students to write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) about a recent experience or a topic of interest, focusing on the correct use of articles. This task allows them to apply what they have learned in a more personal context.

Alternatively, in the next class, consider a quick review where students must identify and correct errors in sentences that misuse articles, further solidifying their understanding.

Conclusion

This lesson plan not only teaches the rules of article usage but also fosters a collaborative learning environment where students actively engage with the material and with each other. By taking responsibility for their learning and explaining their grammatical choices, students develop a deeper understanding of articles and gain confidence in their ability to use them correctly in English.

Related Pages

• Lesson on Articles
• Articles Exercise 1
• Articles Exercise 2
• Definite and Indefinite Articles Worksheet with Answers
• Teaching Definite and Indefinite Articles

In addition to the above lesson plan on articles, you may be interested in the following posts:

Definite And Indefinite Articles Worksheet PDF With Answers

Additional Materials

Here is a free PDF Worksheet on Definite and Indefinite Articles: