Today we'll join Anne and Steve.

They plan what to do on the day of Wildlife park.

Later we'll be looking at two of the smallest and most important words in English - 'the' and 'a'.

First though here's another episode of 'Sisters and Brothers'.

In the last episode Steve arranged to take Anne to Wildlife park.

Today we catch up with them as they enter to Wildlife park.

[...] please and a bag of food.

Here you are. And your [...].

Have a nice day.

How much do I owe you?

That's okay. That's my gift.

Thank you.

I'll buy lunch.

Is there somewhere to have lunch?

Of course. There's a cafe just over there.

What do you wanna do first?

I really want to hold a koala.

Is there a koala here?

Yes.

So much [...] of them.

Would you mind to [...]?

I don't mind.

What else is there? Are there some kangaroos?

Of course. There are lots.

And some birds. I've heard Australian birds are amazing.

Don't worry. You'll see lots of birds.

What shall we do first?

Well, the kangaroos are just over there.

Then I think the birds are next, and next...

... we'll cuddle a koala!

Sure. And after that?

After that, I'll buy you lunch.

It's a deal.

Let's start today by looking at how we use the words 'a' and 'the'.

We call these words articles.

'The' is the definite article.

And 'a' and 'an' are indefinite articles.

We use them before nouns.

Listen.

I really want to hold a koala.

Anne wants to hold a koala.

She's not talking about a definite or particular koala.

She does want to hold any koala.

If you say 'I want to hold the koala'...

... you mean one that you can see or know about.

Try saying 'I really want to hold a koala' with Anne.

I really want to hold a koala.

We only use the word 'a' or 'an' with singular nouns, not plural nouns.

Koala is singular.

And the plural is 'koalas'.

You can't say 'I want to hold a koalas'.

It's correct to say 'I want to hold koalas'...

... or 'I want to hold some koalas'.

But Anne only wants to hold one koala.

So she says...

I really want to hold a koala.

Is there a koala here?

Is there a koala here?

Koala is singular.

So Anne says 'a'.

She also says 'Is there?'

Now listen to Anne asking about the kangaroo.

Are there some kangaroos?

Notice that when Anne asks about more than one animal...

... she says 'Are there some ... ?' instead of 'Is there a ... ?'

Listen to both of those clips again.

Is there a koala here?

Are there some kangaroos?

'Is' and 'are' are both forms of the verb 'to be'.

With a singular noun such as koala we use 'is'.

Is there a koala here?

With a plural noun such as kangaroos we use 'are'.

Are there some kangaroos?

Now listen to how the order of the words changes when we're not asking a question.

Are there some kangaroos?

Of course. There are lots.

There are lots.

It's a statement.

We use 'there' before 'is' or 'are' in a statement.

Listen to another question.

I'll buy lunch.

Is there somewhere to have lunch?

'Is there somewhere to have lunch?' is a question.

Listen to what Steve says in reply.

Of course. There's a cafe just over there.

There's a cafe.

'There's' is short for 'there is'.

A cafe is singular.

So Steve says 'is'.

And because it's not a question he says 'is' after 'there'.

There is a cafe.

Steve says 'There's a cafe'.

If they see it later Steve can say 'There's the cafe'.

It becomes definite.

It's the one he told about before.

'A' is used when you talk about a thing for the first time.

I might say that someone 'I'm going to a film tonight'.

They can be asked 'What's the film called?'

When Anne first asked about kangaroos she used the word 'some' which is indefinite.

Listen again.

Are there some kangaroos?

Now listen to what happens when Steve talks about them later.

Well, the kangaroos are just over there.

They become definite.

And we use 'the' instead of 'some' or 'a'.

Notice that Steve says 'the kangaroos are'.

What do you say if there's only one kangaroo?

The kangaroo...

... is over there.

Now listen to Steve used the word 'are' with the plural noun 'birds'.

Then I think the birds are next...

And next is Michelle Crowden. Hello, Michelle.

Hello Brenton.

Hello everyone.

What have you got there?

A koala.

What's the koala for?

I'll show you later.

What I want to do today is look at the words we use for the order in which we do things.

First let's have another look at Anne and Steve...

... planning what to do at the Wildlife Park.

What shall we do first?

Well, the kangaroos are just over there.

Then I think the birds are next, and next...

... we'll cuddle a koala!

Sure. And after that?

After that, I'll buy you lunch.

Now Brenton you don't have to buy me lunch.

But...

I do want you to make me a sandwich.

Okay.

Listen carefully.

First...

... I want you to slice two pieces of bread from this loaf.

Then I want you to spread butter on them.

Uhuh.

After that you can put on the filling...

... lettuce first...

... next some meat...

... then some sauce.

... followed by another piece of lettuce.

Finally close the sandwich.

And cut it in half.

That's all?

Yes.

Alright.

Er... First slice the bread.

Two slices

Very good.

Then it's spreading butter.

Uhuh.

Excuse me.

After that it's the filling.

Let's see... Lettuce first.

Meat next.

Sauce is after that.

What was next?

Another piece of lettuce.

Ah! That's right.

And finally...

... close the sandwich.

And cut it in half.

Here you are.

Thank you Brenton.

And next here's Anne and Steve planning a day again.

What shall we do first?

Well, the kangaroos are just over there.

Then I think the birds are next, and next...

... we'll cuddle a koala!

Sure. And after that?

After that, I'll buy you lunch.

So what words do we use for the order in which we do things?

We start with 'first'.

And then we can use words such as 'next', 'then', 'after', and 'followed by'.

Does it matter what order you use for me?

No.

Except we finish with 'finally' or 'lastly'.

Now you said that you'd show me later...

... what we're going to do with the koala.

Yes.

I just want you to tell me what it is.

It's a koala, of course.

Why don't you call it 'the koala'?

Oh, you asked what it is in general.

For instance, I'm a man.

One of many.

The same as he is a koala.

Just one example of all koalas.

Very good.

He is a koala.

But what's a koala?

A koala is an animal.

An animal.

We use 'an' for those words that start with a vowel sound.

The vowel sound [...] the short vowel sounds.

a

An animal.

i

An igloo.

e

An egg.

o

An ostrich.

u

An umbrella.

Then the long vowel sounds.

A

An alien.

E

An eagle.

I

An island.

And o.

An open door.

U is a consonant sound.

And we say 'a university' and 'a European'.

So what's this Brenton?

It's an ant.

A big ant.

You changed 'an ant' to 'a big ant'.

Why?

We only use 'an' straight before a word that starts with a vowel sound.

'Big' starts with a consonant.

So we say 'a big ant'.

Right again.

Now it's your turn.

This is...

... a kangaroo.

This is...

... an egg.

And this is...

... a koala.

Let's listen to Anne one more time.

What else is there? Are there some kangaroos?

Yes, here are some kangaroos.

And here's the koala.

- Catch. - Oh!

In our next program we're going to learn some more about animals like this...

... and how to describe them.

See you next time.

Here's today's episode of our story once again.

Bye.

[...] please and a bag of food.

Here you are. And your [...].

Have a nice day.

How much do I owe you?

That's okay. That's my gift.

Thank you.

I'll buy lunch.

Is there somewhere to have lunch?

Of course. There's a cafe just over there.

What do you wanna do first?

I really want to hold a koala.

Is there a koala here?

Yes.

So much [...] of them.

Would you mind to [...]?

I don't mind.

What else is there? Are there some kangaroos?