التحيّات حول العالم · Programme: Describing ways of greeting · Grammar: Articles: a / an / the
By the end of this lesson, I can:
- I can name four ways of greeting.
- I can describe how people greet each other in some countries.
- I can use a, an and the correctly.
- I can write about how we greet in Tunisia.
🖼️ Picture dictionary قاموس مصوّر
tap 🔊 to listen📚 كلمات الدرس
11 كلمة من هذا الدرس في القاموس المدرسي: المعنى بالعربية والفرنسية، والنطق، ومثال.
📖 Read: Hello, world! أقرأ
There are many ways to greet people around the world.
In Tunisia, men often shake hands. Family members and close friends kiss each other on the cheek, two or more times. Children kiss the hand of a grandparent to show respect.
In Japan, people don’t touch. They bow. A small bow is for a friend. A big bow is for an old person or a teacher.
In India, many people put their hands together in front of the chest and say “Namaste”.
In New Zealand, the Maori people have a special greeting: two people touch noses and foreheads. It is called the hongi.
In the United Kingdom, people often shake hands or just say “Hi!” and smile.
What do I think? Every greeting is different, but they all say the same thing: Welcome, I’m happy to see you!
Do you understand? أفهم
Answer in your copybook first, then check.
- How do men often greet in Tunisia?
Answer
They shake hands.
- What do people do in Japan?
Answer
They bow; they don’t touch.
- What do many people say in India?
Answer
Namaste, with their hands together.
- What is the hongi?
Answer
A Maori greeting: two people touch noses and foreheads.
- Find an article before a word starting with a vowel sound.
Answer
an old person.
🧩 Grammar القواعد
a and an = one (singular). We use them when we talk about something for the first time.
- a + consonant sound: a bow, a friend, a teacher
- an + vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u): an old person, an island, an apple
the = a special thing, or a thing we already know. It can be singular or plural: the cheek, the Maori people, the United Kingdom.
Listen to the sound, not only the letter: a uniform (you-), an hour (h is silent).
a وan أداتا نكرة للمفرد: a قبل الصوت الساكن، وan قبل الصوت المتحرّك. the أداة تعريف لشيء معروف أو وحيد، للمفرد والجمع.
a, an or the?
| Article | When? | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| a | one thing + consonant sound | a hand, a bow, a country |
| an | one thing + vowel sound | an apple, an egg, an island, an old man, an umbrella |
| the | a known or special thing (singular or plural) | the sun, the world, the cheeks, the Sahara |
an hour 🕐 (silent h) · a uniform 👕 (sounds like you) · an English book 📘
Greetings and countries
| Country | Greeting |
|---|---|
| Tunisia 🇹🇳 | shake hands 🤝 / kiss on the cheek 😘 |
| Japan 🇯🇵 | bow 🙇 |
| India 🇮🇳 | hands together 🙏 |
| New Zealand 🇳🇿 | touch noses (hongi) 👃 |
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | shake hands 🤝 / wave 👋 |
💬 Useful expressions عبارات مفيدة
Describing greetings
Greeting people
🔊 Pronunciation النطق
Worked examples أمثلة محلولة
Try first, then read the solution.
Complete: … island, … country, … orange.
Step-by-step solution
- island and orange start with a vowel sound ➡️ an.
- country starts with a consonant sound ➡️ a.
✓ an island, a country, an orange
Complete: I see … boy. … boy is waving.
Step-by-step solution
- First time: one boy, not known yet ➡️ a.
- Second time: we know which boy ➡️ the.
✓ I see a boy. The boy is waving.
Picture: two men in Japan 🙇🙇. Write a sentence.
Step-by-step solution
- The men greet each other.
- In Japan, people bow.
✓ In Japan, the two men bow to each other.
⚠️ Common mistakes أخطاء شائعة
⭐ Remember أحفظ
- People greet in different ways: shake hands, bow, kiss on the cheek, wave, touch noses.
- a + consonant sound: a friend, a bow.
- an + vowel sound: an apple, an old man, an hour.
- the = a known or only one thing: the sun, the world.
- Each other: two people do the same action together.
Quick quiz اختبار سريع
4 questions · instant feedback1. How do people often greet in Japan?
2. Choose the correct article: … old man
3. Choose the correct article: … sun is very big.
4. In the text, what is the hongi?
✍️ Write: How we greet in Tunisia أكتب
A pen friend from Japan asks you: How do people say hello in Tunisia? Write a short paragraph (50–70 words).
Steps
- Start with: In Tunisia, people greet each other in different ways.
- Say how men greet each other.
- Say how family members greet each other.
- Say how children greet old people.
- Give one greeting word in Arabic and its meaning.
A model text to compare with (after writing mine)
In Tunisia, people greet each other in different ways. Men often shake hands. In the family, we kiss each other on the cheek, two or more times. When I visit my grandfather, I kiss his hand to show respect. At school, we say Good morning to the teacher. With friends, we say Assalamou alaykoum, which means peace be upon you. What about Japan? Do you bow every day?
One good example among many: compare, don’t copy.
😊 The lighter side استراحة
A smile is the same in every language.
You give it to someone, but you keep it too. What is it?
Answer
A smile (or a handshake).
Why do fish never shake hands? — Because they haven’t got any hands, only fins!
✅ Exercises تمارين
All exercises →6 exercises on three levels, with new questions every time.
- Choose the right answerTo do
- ClassifyTo do
- Situation 1To do
- Situation 2To do
Practise: Greetings Around the World
True or false, complete, choose, classify and situations: instant correction with explanations.
Got the lesson? Try it yourself
6 exercises · instant correction · new questions every time
Start the exercisesPictures: Twemoji (CC-BY 4.0). Texts, explanations and exercises: Scolaire.tn.