Oct 02 2007

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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04:50 AM Oct 09 2007 \| Reply
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

04:50 AM Oct 09 2007 | Reply

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

10:41 AM Jan 14 2008 \| Reply
medotwo Egypt	thanks about that new information about use a and an

10:41 AM Jan 14 2008 | Reply

medotwo

Egypt

thanks about that new information about use a and an

05:10 AM Feb 12 2008 \| Reply
tiffintime Sri Lanka	A useful lesson indeed. This also explains the use of articles in general.

05:10 AM Feb 12 2008 | Reply

tiffintime

Sri Lanka

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

05:33 AM Feb 12 2008 \| Reply
dharmendra.sahil India	wow thas good lession on articals thaks for this

05:33 AM Feb 12 2008 | Reply

dharmendra.sahil

India

wow thas good lession on articals

thaks for this

12:30 PM Feb 12 2008 \| Reply
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!

12:30 PM Feb 12 2008 | Reply

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!

05:42 PM Feb 12 2008 \| Reply
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!

05:42 PM Feb 12 2008 | Reply

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!