English · Chapter 1 · Lesson 2 · Vocabulary
The first words
The handful of words that appear in almost every English sentence: the articles and the words that point at things.
Practise this lesson
10-word session
A quick mix of exercises - recognise, recall, type and build each word. Miss one and it comes back round until it sticks.
This lesson's words
the/ðə/Used before a noun when the listener already knows which person or thing you mean.
a/ə/Used before a noun to talk about one person or thing for the first time, when it is not a special or known one.
an/æn/Used before a noun that starts with a vowel sound to mean one of something.
this/ðɪs/Points to a person or thing that is near, or the one you are talking about right now.
that/ðæt/Points to a person or thing further away, or the one already mentioned, and can also join two parts of a sentence.
it/ɪt/Stands for a thing, an animal, or an idea already mentioned, and can also start a sentence about weather or time.
one/wʌn/The number 1, or a word that stands for a single thing already mentioned.
no/nəʊ/Not any, or used to give a negative answer.
all/ɔːl/The whole amount or every one of a group of things or people.
some/sʌm/An amount or number that is not exact, a few or a little.
Printable downloads
Worksheets with answer keys built in, plus a vocabulary infographic. Open any one to view, print or save.