What Everyone Must Know About indefinite articles a and an
In English, the two indefinite articles are a and an. Like other articles, indefinite articles are invariable. You use one or the other, depending on the first letter of the word following the article, for pronunciation reasons. Use a when the next word starts with a consonant, or before words starting in u and eu when they sound like you. Use an when the next word starts with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) or with a mute h. The indefinite article is used to refer to something for the first time or to refer to a particular member of a group or class.
The article A is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with consonant sounds. The article AN is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with vowel sounds. Remember that A(AN) means one or a single. You cannot use A(AN) with plural nouns.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. 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 letters and numbers which sound like they begin with a consonant, such as U, J, 1 or 9. Remember, it is the sound not the spelling which is important. For example, 1 is spelled O-N-E, however, it is pronounced won like it starts with a W.
Use AN before words such as hour which sound like they start with a vowel even if the first letter is a consonant. Also use AN before letters and numbers which sound like they begin with a vowel, such as F or 8. Remember, it is the sound not the spelling which is important. For example, F is pronounced eff like it starts with an E.Some words such as herb or hospital are more complicated because they are pronounced differently in different English accents. In most American accents, the h in herb is silent, so Americans usually say an herb. In many British accents, the h in herb is pronounced, so many British say a herb. In some British accents, the h in hospital is silent, so some 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(AN) with these uncountable nouns.
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