The next video is British, but we use most of the same expressions in US English.
We don't do a burp or a fart, though.
I also don't think the emphasis on non-specific things being "do" is completely true.
It's okay to make something too.
Do something is respond. Make something is create -- usually food for dinner.
A or An = 1When I use a or an for one, I probably don't know or care which one. I don't think you know which one anyway. Use for non-specific nouns. Use a or an with one of many. Examples: Please hand me a napkin. Can I have a piece of pizza? Please give her a pencil. Get a chair. Have an apple. I'll be done in just a minute.
Never use a or an with plural (more that 1) or non-count nouns.
The= I think you know which one(s). Can be used with plural nouns and non-count nouns. Don't use anything when the plural or non-count noun is a big idea. (Practice makes your English improve. Religion makes her happy. March has nice weather in Virginia. The students need more practice. (What students? The ones in my class.) There's the girl with the orange hat. (What girl? The girl who is wearing the only orange hat in the class. You know which one because you can see the orange hat.) Did you finish the homework? (What homework? The homework that the teacher told you to do for today. I think you know, but if you don't know, check the blog!! What blog? The blog for our class: www.lieasyesol.blogspot.com) The must be used when there's only one because if there's only one, you know which one. Please lock the door. Look at the clock.
The should be used when you describe which one. We say "a student" to describe any one student in the class, but "the student" with the NIKE cap to describe a particular student. A desk=any desk. The teacher's desk=a specific desk---and you know which. The should be used after the first mention because now you know which one(s). Please give me a sponge. Would you please wet the sponge before you give it to me? (What sponge? The sponge that you are going to give me.)
A man and a woman were walking on Oxford Street. The woman saw a dress that she liked in a shop. She asked the man if he could buy the dress for her. He said: "Do you think the shop will accept a check? I don't have a credit card Advanced Explanation -- Scroll down for some good examples
For a vs. an Use "an" before a vowel sound. Be careful. Sometimes the sound is more important than reality. If "hon" sounds like "awww," use an. If "u" sounds like "yooo," use a a or an practice a or an 2 Woodward English a vs. an
Some people may have learned not to use "to have" in a progressive or continuous tense. That's true, but only when "have" means possess. It's OK to say, "I was having my lunch," but not "I was having a car."
This next one has a british accent and advertising for a grammar book, but I like her explanation.
