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A/An

A/An

Date: Oct 02 2007

Topic: Grammar

Author: rhyme_reason

Lesson

People sometimes think that we use 'a' before a consonant and 'an' before a vowel. That is not totally correct. We use 'a' before a consonant sound and 'an' before a vowel sound.
  • a European, an elephant
  • a uniform, an uncle
  • a GP, an MP
Three nouns beginning with 'h' always use 'an'
  • an heir
  • an hour
  • an honour/honor
Some other words beginning with 'h' can use either 'a' or 'an'.
  • a hotel, an hotel
  • a historical visit, an historical visit
'A' is mainly used with singular, countable nouns.
  • Do you have a pen?
  • I don't have a watch.
One important meaning of 'a' is to talk about actual, specific, indefinite things or people. By the act of mentioning this thing or person, the thing or person becomes 'definite' and so we use 'the' and not 'a' in the rest of the conversation.
  • I could see a man on the other side of the street.
  • What was the man wearing?
  • I can see a blue bottle and a red bottle.
  • Take the blue bottle.
The other important meaning of 'a' is to talk about indefinite classes or types. We are not thinking about specific things or people but about the general class of things or people.
  • I'm a doctor.
  • I've been a doctor for ten years.
  • She was a student for two years but she isn't a student any more.
We normally use 'a' and not 'one' to talk about singular things or people. However, we use 'one' if we wish to emphasize the number.
  • Do you have a pen?
  • I'd like a cup of coffee, please
  • I only had one warning before they took me to court.
We can use 'a' with 'have' or 'take' plus some nouns formed from 'action' verbs to mean one instance of the action.
  • I want to have a walk later.
  • You need to have a wash before you go out.
  • You should take a look at what he has done.
 'A' can be used in expressions of time and measure.
  • I go there at least once a month.
  • I get paid 25 dollars an hour.
  • The eggs cost two dollars a dozen.
  • It costs two euros a kilo.
'A' can also be used to mean a cup/glass/can/bottle of a drink.
  • Would you like a Coke?
  • Can I have a whisky?
  • I'd love a coffee.

Comments

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devlet

Tuvalu

very good thank you and please add me

10:28 AM Feb 27 2008 |

GaryLo

GaryLo

China

It's useful for us

04:15 AM Feb 18 2008 |

asra

asra

China

thanks

04:09 AM Feb 18 2008 |

negresh

negresh

Jordan

hi gj rejh fk d;fjg rdkljv d;fojgfo

01:25 PM Feb 13 2008 |

Valguima

Brazil

tks. It's helpful. I always have dought how to use articles.

09:13 AM Feb 13 2008 |

mert65

mert65

Turkey

ufff, really very rules here but wanna learn what ı will do

08:13 AM Feb 13 2008 |

caseyid

caseyid

China

 thanks  your lesson ii is very helpful  and i ofen do it wrong in life.alway do it wrong  .but i think i will do it right in furture .

03:21 AM Feb 13 2008 |

armida

armida

Mexico

      Thank you, each day we can learn something new, I was almost sure about the use of a/an, now I can see that it isn´t as simple as I was thinking, is very dificult!

01:42 AM Feb 13 2008 |

latin-lover

Italy

I have to admit that I thought it easy, now that I read the lesson I can tell that it is quite difficoult.

It needs to be studied carefully! 

08:30 PM Feb 12 2008 |

dharmendra.sahil

India

wow thas good lession on articals

thaks for this

01:33 PM Feb 12 2008 |

tiffintime

tiffintime

Sri Lanka

A useful lesson indeed. This also explains the use of articles in general.

01:10 PM Feb 12 2008 |

medotwo

medotwo

Egypt

thanks about that new information about use a and an

06:41 PM Jan 14 2008 |

WINNIEDAPOOH

Nigeria

thanks alot, whenever i use "an" for hotel when talking, pple look at me like i just made a blunder. i do have a problem with pronouncing "h", so i always thought that was the problem.

 Pls, the use of an for letters starting out with consonant, is it restricted to only those 5 h words? How about hospital? etc

11:50 AM Oct 09 2007 |

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