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Nouns and articles, part 1 of 4
A vs An: The Vowel and Consonant Rule
Use a before a consonant sound (a book) and an before a vowel sound (an apple). The sound decides, not the letter: an hour.
The idea
What a and an are
They mean one: any one thing, or one you mention for the first time. You choose by the next sound.
- Only with one thing. Never with a plural: a cat, but two cats.
- The sound decides. Not the letter: an hour, a university.
- They go with jobs. She is a nurse.
When to use it
To talk about any one thing or person, or one you mention for the first time. These expressions go with it:
Jobs
- a nurse
- an engineer
- an artist
- a lawyer
Phrases with a
- Just a minute.
- What a surprise!
- Take a seat.
- It's a deal.
Saying goodbye
- Have a nice day!
- Have a good weekend!
- Have a safe trip!
Examples
- Something new
I saw a dog in the park.
- Your job
My sister is a dentist.
- Before a vowel
I eat an apple every day.
- A silent h
The movie is an hour long.
- With an adjective
It is an old house.
- A u that sounds like you
My brother goes to a university in Ohio.
How to build it
4 steps
- Say the word out loudListen to the first sound, not the letter:hour: /aʊr/
- A vowel sound: anEven if it is spelled with h:an hour
- A consonant sound: aEven if it is spelled with u or e:a university
- Look at the next wordIf there is an adjective, the adjective decides:an old car
One thing
- SubjectWe
- verbneed
- a / anan
- nounanswer.
With an adjective
- SubjectIt
- verbis
- a / ana
- adjectivebig
- nounegg.
The rule
Choose by the first sound
| First sound | Article | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| consonant | a | a book, a car, a dog |
| vowel | an | an egg, an idea, an orange |
The sound decides, not the letter
| Word | With the article | Why |
|---|---|---|
| hour | an hour | silent h: /aʊr/ |
| honest | an honest man | silent h: /ˈɑnɪst/ |
| university | a university | starts with /j/, a consonant sound |
| European | a European city | starts with /j/ |
How to pronounce it
a
/ə/In speech it is a short, weak /ə/; /eɪ/ only when you stress it.
an
/ən/It links to the next word: an apple sounds like one word.
Check
It takes (blank) hour by train. Which word goes in the blank?
Don't confuse it with the
I want a sandwich.
A: any sandwich
The sandwich is great.
The: the one we know
A and an introduce something new or any one. The talks about something both people already know.
Part 4: theIn real life
In speech, a is almost always a quick /ə/: a cup of tea. It is easy to miss, so listen for the noun after it.
Frequently asked questions
Do a and an change for men and women?
No. A doctor works for a man or a woman, and so does an artist. They only change with the next sound.
Is it "a one" or "an one" in English?
A one: one starts with a /w/ sound, a consonant. The same with a one-way street.
How do you say how often or how much with a?
With a or an meaning "each": once a week, twice a day, ten dollars an hour.
Do you use a or an before letters like FBI or USB?
It depends on how the first letter sounds: an FBI agent (/ɛf/), an MBA, but a USB cable (/ju/).
In short
- Consonant sound: a book. Vowel sound: an apple.
- The sound decides, not the letter: an hour, a university.
- With an adjective, the adjective decides: an old car.
- Never with a plural; always with jobs: She is a nurse.