Grammar · Articles & Determiners
Articles: A, An & The
A, an and the are small words, but you use them all the time. Learn when to use each one with the film Tangled.
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The rule in one sentenceUse a / an when you talk about one thing for the first time, and the when we both know which one.
About the film
Tangled is a Disney film from 2010. Rapunzel is a girl with very long, magic hair. She lives in a tall tower in a forest, and she never leaves the tower. Every year on her birthday, she sees lights in the sky, and she wants to know what they are.
What does it do?
These three small words go before a thing, like tower or horse. A and an mean one thing, any one, or a new thing in the story. The means one special thing. You know it, and I know it too.
The first time you talk about something, use a or an. After that, it is not new, so use the.
Look at the first two tiles. First, the tower is new, so we say a tower. Now we know it, so it is the tower.
Rapunzel has a friend. The friend is a little green chameleon called Pascal.
First we meet a friend. Then we know who it is, so it becomes the friend.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
a / an — one thing, new
Rapunzel has a frying pan.
Rapunzel has an idea.
Idea starts with a vowel sound, so an.Is there a door in the tower?
There is no door. She uses her hair.the — we know which one
The lights go up into the sky.
Rapunzel can’t leave the tower.
We know which tower. It is her tower.Where are the lights from?
When to use each one
a / an — new or any one
the — the one we know
Words that help: new or known?
Some words in the sentence tell you which one to use.
a / an → new, one of many
the → we both know it
Common mistakes
❌ Rapunzel lives in tower.
✅ Rapunzel lives in a tower.
One tower needs a word before it. Use a.
❌ Rapunzel has a idea.
✅ Rapunzel has an idea.
Idea starts with a vowel sound, so use an.
❌ Rapunzel looks at a sky.
✅ Rapunzel looks at the sky.
There is only one sky, so use the.
❌ Flynn is the thief. A thief wants his bag.
✅ Flynn is a thief. The thief wants his bag.
First time: a. Second time: the.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
Sometimes you don’t need a word at all. When you talk about things in general, with more than one, don’t use a or the.
✅ Horses are strong. Dogs are good friends. (all horses, all dogs)
✅ The horse in the film is very strong. (one horse we know)
Practice: choose the right word
Eight questions. Choose one word. You get the answer, and why.
1. Rapunzel lives in ___ tall tower.
Tall starts with a consonant sound → a.
2. ___ tower has no door.
We know which tower now → the.
3. Flynn is ___ thief.
A job, one of many → a.
4. She sees lights in ___ sky.
There is only one sky → the.
5. Pascal is ___ animal.
Animal starts with a vowel sound → an.
6. Rapunzel has ___ frying pan. She hits Flynn with it.
Frying starts with a consonant sound → a.
7. Flynn hides in ___ old tower.
Old starts with a vowel sound → an.
8. Where are ___ lights from? Rapunzel wants to know.
We know which lights: the lights on her birthday → the.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
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