TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you need to count the occurrences of the given word in the given sentence.
PROBLEM: Sentence: 'a group of people riding on a boat in a small docking canal'. Count the occurrences of the word 'a' in the given sentence.

SOLUTION: 3

PROBLEM: Sentence: 'a small bird perched on a branch in a tree'. Count the occurrences of the word 'a' in the given sentence.

SOLUTION: 3

PROBLEM: Sentence: 'a group of people standing on top of a beach under a colorful kite'. Count the occurrences of the word 'a' in the given sentence.

SOLUTION:
3