Articles and Capitalization

Articles and Capitalization

What is an article?

An article is a special adjective that defines the noun being talked about. There are 3 kinds of articles: a, an, the.

Multiple Select

Which word(s) is an article? [can be more than one answer]

• a

• an

• and

• the

When do I use each of the different article types?

"A" - is used when talking about nouns that start with consonants; this is non specific noun

ex: a car, a bike, a newspaper, a teacher

"An" - is used when talking about nouns that start with vowels; this is a non specific noun

ex: an egg, an orange, an apple

"The" - is used when talking about a specific noun; doesn't matter what kind of letter it starts with

ex: the car, the apple, the teacher

Multiple Choice

Which article belongs with the word "ostrich"?

• a

• an

Multiple Choice

Which article belongs with the word "soccer ball"?

• a

• an

Multiple Choice

Which article belongs in the following blank?

"I asked my sister to hand me ______ pencil on the desk next to her."

• a

• an

• the

What is capitalization?

Capitalization is making the first letter in a word larger than the other letters in the word. 

ex: Mr. Williams

When do I capitalize?

• When it is a NAME

• When it is a STARTER

Name: "I"

"I" is the name that you call yourself.

ex: I went to the store. I bought ice cream. I like to eat dessert.

Name: "Person"

The name you call a person must be capitalized. ALL parts - first, middle, last.

ex: Sarah Silva Stout, Kelly, Edgar Waller

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is capitalized correctly?

• Amelia and i go shopping every weekend.

• amelia and i go shopping every weekend.

• Amelia and I go shopping every weekend.

Name: "Titles of Respect"

When giving a title of respect with a name it is also capitalized, OR if you are using it in place of the name it is capitalized.

ex: Ms. Bean, Cousin Fred, my aunt, the president

Multiple Choice

Is this written correctly?

The Queen of England visited the US yesterday.

• Yes

• No

Name: "Exact Places"

When telling the exact name of a place and NOT the kind of place. This includes cities, states, and countries

ex: Haltom City, Texas, East Hills Mall, movie theater

Name: "Exact Objects"

When telling the exact name of an object and NOT the kind of object.

ex: Nike shoes, Versace glasses, sandals

Multiple Choice

Is this written correctly?

We visited Walmart and winco in hurst for groceries.

• Yes

• No

Name: "Days and Months"

When telling the name of the day of the week or the month of the year.

NEVER capitalize the seasons if they are not part of the name of something else - winter, spring, summer, fall

ex: Saturday, May 5th, Spring Break, spring flowers

Name: "Languages"

When telling the name of a language (because most of the time it comes from the name of the country that speaks it)

ex: English, Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Kinyarwandan

Multiple Select

What words should be capitalized in the sentence below?

Next tuesday, Melanee and Amna will have a test in their chinese class.

• Tuesday

• test

• Chinese

• class

Name: "Religions"

When telling the name of a religious belief

ex: Catholicism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism

Name: "Holidays"

When telling the name of a holiday, doesn't matter if the holiday is religious or secular.

Small preposition words like "of" "in" "the" are not capitalized if they are in the middle of the name

ex: Christmas, Memorial Day, Dia de los Muertos, Tet, Martyrs of Independence

Name: "Titles"

When telling the name of a book, article, magazine, tv show, movie, song, poem, etc. capitalize all but small preposition/article words like "of" "in" "the" are not capitalized if they are in the middle of the name

ex: Guardians of the Galaxy, Wonder Woman 1984, "Ode to a Greek Vase"

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is written correctly?

• Because my family is protestant, we celebrate Christmas by singing "the First Noel."

• Because my family is Protestant, we celebrate christmas by singing "The First Noel."

• Because my family is Protestant, we celebrate Christmas by singing "The First Noel."

Starter: "Sentences"

When writing a sentence, the first word must be capitalized no matter what that word is.

ex: The sandwich I had for lunch was peanut butter and jelly on white bread.

Starter: "Outlines"

When writing an outline the first word of each line must be capitalized.

ex: I. Memories 

II. Types 

a. Long term 

b. Short term   

III. Reasons memories are important 

Multiple Select

What should be capitalized in the outline below.

I. wonder woman superpowers

II. History of the Amazon people

a. Before Silver Age

b. After Silver Age

III. Conclusion: the author, william Moulton Marston, created a superhero to appeal to females and males alike. The world is lucky to have such a good role model.

• Wonder

• superpowers

• William

• females

• males