A vs An - Grammar

"A Vs An"

This information will give you some tips to help you use articles like a native speaker. Here, I introduce A vs AN and teach you how to choose between the these two.

➜ The article A is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with consonant sounds.

Examples:

She is a teacher.

He doesn't own a bike.

I saw a tiger at the zoo.

➜ The article AN is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with vowel sounds (a,e,i,o,u).

Examples:

She is an actress.

He didn't get an invitation.

I saw an elephant at the zoo.

❗️Remember that A / AN means "a single" or "one". You cannot use A /AN with plural nouns.

Examples:

I saw a tigers in London National Park. 

Incorrect

I saw tigers in London National Park. 

Correct

➜ If there is an adjective or an adverb - adjective combination before the noun, A/AN should agree with the first sound in the adjective or the adverb-adjective combination.

Examples:

She is an excellent teacher.

I saw a giant elephant at the zoo.

➜ Use A before words such as "European" or "University" which sound like they start with a consonant even if the first letter is a vowel. Also use A before numbers and letters which sound like they begin with a consonant, such as "1" or "U" 

It is the sound not the spell which is important. For example, "1" is spelled as O-N-E. it is pronounced "won" as it starts with a "W".

Examples:

She has a euro. 

* (Sounds like "yu-ro".)

❗️Use AN before words which sound like they start with a vowel even if the first letter is a consonant such as "hour" . Also use AN before numbers and letters which sound like they begin with a vowel, such as "8" or "F". It is just the sound not the spelling which is important. 

Examples:

I only have an hour for dinner. 

* (Sounds like "au-er")

➜ Some words for example "herb" or "hospital" are more complicated because they are pronounced differently in different English accents (British/American accents). 

As per American accents, the "h" in "herb" is silent, so Americans usually say "an herb".

While in British accents, the "h" in "herb" is pronounced, so many British say "a herb". 

Whereas in British accents, the "h" in hospital is silent, so British will say "an hospital" instead of "a hospital".

➜ In English, some nouns are considered uncountable such as: information, air, advice, salt and fun. We do not use A or AN with these uncountable nouns.

Examples:

She gives a good advice. 

Incorrect

She gives good advice. 

Correct

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