'A' or 'The'
We learned that 'a' means one. Click here to review if you are not sure. 'The' also means one.
When do you use 'a' and when do you use 'the'?
Example 1
There is one blue book out of lots of blue books. So, we say a blue book.
There is one blue book in total. So, we say the blue book.
a blue book
the blue book
Example 2
1 out of 8 = a
a yellow pen
1 out of 1 = the
the yellow pen
A = one of many
​
The = one of one
Vocabulary
A or The Exercises
a new laptop
the new laptop
Answer
the
new phone
Answer
a
new book
Answer
the
thick book
Answer
the
white flower
The 'adjective one'
circle
round
rectangle
rectangular
square
square
triangle
triangular
Examples
the circle
​
the round one
a circle
​
a round one
the triangle
​
the triangular one
a rectangle
​
a rectangular one
Answer - noun
a square
Answer - adj
a square one
Answer - noun
a triangle
Answer - adj
a triangular one
Answer - noun
the circle
Answer - adj
the round one
A or The Exercises
There are many ways to use 'a' or 'the'. Let's look at asking for things first. The grammar is:
​
Can + subject + have + a / the + adjective + noun + please?
This is a shop and you need to ask for things on your list.
Mr. P's shop
SHOPPING LIST
​
-
Red pencil
-
Black phone
-
Green notebook
-
Brown pen
-
Book
Red pencil = Can I have the red pencil please? 1 of 1 = the
Black phone =
Answer
Can I have the black phone please?
Answer
Can I have a green notebook please?
Green notebook =
Answer
Can I have a brown pen please?
Brown pen =
Answer
Can I have the book please?
Book =
Possible sentences
Can I have the triangular one please?
​
Can I have a triangular one please?
​
Can I have a round one please?
​
Can I have the round one please?
-
There is one triangular sweet, so it is 'the'. There are three round sweets. If you want 1 it is 'a'.
Can I have the triangular one please?
​
Can I have a triangular one please?
​
Can I have a round one please?
​
Can I have the round one please?
​
Can I have a rectangular one please?
​
Can I have the rectangular one please?
-
There is only one of each, and so it is 'the'.
Can I have the round one please?
​
Can I have a round one please?
​
Can I have the rectangular one please?
​
Can I have a rectangular one please?
Yes
No
No
Yes
With colours
Yes
Can I have the orange one please?
​
Can I have an orange one please?
​
Can I have the blue one please?
​
Can I have a blue one please?
Yes
No
No
No
Can I have the orange one please?
​
Can I have an orange one please?
​
Can I have the pink one please?
​
Can I have a pink one please?
No
Yes
Yes