💋 Liquid Bravery
Sometimes, we all need a bit of Dutch courage before we cross the room to speak to a solid 10/10. But before you get completely pissed and embarrass yourself, let's talk about articles. Nothing kills the mood faster than saying "I want the drink" when you mean "I want a drink." Let's master a, an, the, and the magic of no article.
- Dutch courage (noun): The confidence you get from drinking alcohol before doing something scary.
- Pissed (adjective): In UK slang, this means very drunk (not angry, like in the US!).
1. The Cheeky Dictionary: 8 Words for a Messy Night
Practice: drag a word, or select it and choose a gap.
1. Don't let him buy the drinks, he always insists on getting a of tequila.
2. I only had half a glass of wine and I'm already feeling . I'm such a !
3. The wouldn't let him into the club because he was wearing trainers.
4. You must have had serious last night if you thought he looked like Ryan Gosling.
5. If you want to impress her, you should that pint right now.
Choose a word, then choose a gap.
2. Grammar Mechanics: A, An, The, or Zero?
When you are ordering at the bar, you need to know exactly what you're asking for.
| Article | The Rule | Cheeky Example |
|---|---|---|
| A / An | One of many. It doesn't matter which one. Use 'an' before a vowel sound. | "I need a drink." (Any drink. Just give me alcohol.) |
| The | Specific. We both know exactly which one we are talking about. | "Pass me the vodka." (The bottle that is right in front of us.) |
| Zero (-) | General concepts, plural things in general, or uncountable nouns. | "- Alcohol makes me brave." (Alcohol in general, not a specific bottle.) |
3. Reading: Piecing Together the Night
Notice how Tara and Jess use their articles!
4. Interactive Practice: Ordering at the Bar
Exercise A: Choose the right article
1. I think I need excuse to leave this terrible date.
2. Do you have number of that fit guy from last night?
3. Tequila is a dangerous drink.
Exercise B: Fill in the blank (a, an, the, or -)
Type the missing article. If no article is needed, type a hyphen (-).
1. He is absolute lightweight.
2. men in this pub are all terrible flirts.
3. I don't usually drink beer.
5. Speaking Practice: Spilling the Tea ☕
Grab a drink (or a tea) and discuss these questions with your language partner. Mind your articles!
- Have you ever relied on Dutch courage to do something? Did it work out or end in disaster?
- Who is the biggest lightweight in your group of friends?
- Have you ever had a bad experience with a bouncer?
- Do you prefer drinking spirits, beer, or wine? Why? (Remember your zero article rule here!)
- Have you ever been a victim of beer goggles? Who did you wake up next to?