Virginia SOL 1.LU.1.G
The Standard
Use articles correctly (e.g., a, an, the).
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Grammar
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students choose a, an, or the to make a noun phrase complete. They use a or an for one nonspecific item and the for a specific or already named item. They listen to the noun’s opening sound to choose between a and an.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student says and writes phrases such as “a dog,” “an egg,” and “the dog by the gate” without prompting. The student can explain that “the” points to a known item and can correct an article error.
Common Misconceptions
- Common errors include “a apple” and “an dog.” Students may also use “the” for every object or leave out the article completely.
How to Assess It
- Give this exit ticket: Fill in the blanks in “I saw __ ant and __ dog. __ dog barked.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs picture cards and article cards, then have them build phrases such as “a kite,” “an owl,” and “the red cup.”
Show an apple and ask, “Why do we say ‘an apple’ first, then ‘the apple’ when we mention it again?”
Play Article Corners: call out a noun phrase with a blank, and students move to the a, an, or the sign.
Run a classroom scavenger hunt where students record “a pencil,” “an eraser,” and “the book beside the window.”
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Printable 1.LU.1.G Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 1.LU.1.F
Use proper verb tense and correct subject-verb agreement.
- 4.LU.1.F
Use standard noun-pronoun agreement when speaking and writing.
- 8.LU.1.B
Recognize and use pronoun-antecedent agreement, including indefinite, reflexive, and relative pronouns, when speaking and writing.
- 6.LU.2.A
Construct complete sentences with appropriate punctuation, avoiding comma splices and run-ons in writing.
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