Correct use of ‘A’ and ‘An’

For a beginner stepping into the world of English Grammar, the correct usage of indefinite Articles ‘A’ and ‘An’might seem a tad confusing initially unless and until he/she becomes acquainted with the following cardinal rules of usage of Indefinite Articles:

Always, always and I cannot emphasis enough, go by the sound / pronunciation of the first letter and not by the actual alphabet.

‘A’

1.  The article ‘A’ is used before singular, countable Nouns which begin with consonant sounds.

i.e., All first letter consonant sounding singular words are preceded by the article ‘a’

e.g.:  a pet, a hen, a door, a table

He is a lecturer.

I don’t own a car.

I saw a cat in the park

 

Please note especially the following examples:

Where the first letter and the sound has a discrepancy in pronunciation

 (‘U’ / ‘e’ pronounced as ‘y’)

e.g.: A used napkin

A union

A European trip (‘e’ pronounced as ‘y’)

e.g.: A one-legged man(‘o’ pronounced as ‘w’)

 She has a Euro. (Pronounced with the letter ‘y)’

That number is a ‘One’. (Pronounced with the letter ‘w’)


2. Article ‘a’ is not used before a word in which the first letter ‘h’ remains silent.

e.g. – hour, honest, honourable 


‘AN’

1. The article ‘AN’ is used before singular, countable Nouns which begin with vowel sounds.

 

All vowel sounding first letter singular countable Noun words are preceded by ’An’.

E.g.: an apple, an egg, an ink-pot, an owl, an umbrella 

He is an actor by profession.

I didn’t get an invitation to the party.

I saw an eagle at the park.

 

Note the examples mentioned below, for further clarity.

‘An’ is used as an article with words which start with the letter ‘h’ but ‘h’ remains silent.

e.g.: an hour, an honest man, an honourable treaty.


2. ‘An’ is also used with all such words which start with consonants but pronounced as vowels e.g.: words as ‘F’ (Pronounced with the letter sounding ‘eff’).

e.g.: An M.B.A degree.

An M.A in English.


Special Note:

·   If there is an Adjective or Adverb Adjective combination before the Noun, A (AN) should agree with the first sound in the Adjective or the Adverb Adjective Combination.

 

e.g.: I saw a truly magnificent eagle in the sky.

He is an exemplary student.

·   There are certain words in the English lexicon such as ‘herb’ or ‘hospital’; which are pronounced differently in different English accents.

In American accents where the ‘h’ is silent in the word ‘herb’, it is common to use ‘an herb’ whereas Britishers prefer ‘a herb’ since ‘h’ is pronounced over there.

 

Similarly British accents consider ‘h’ silent in hospital, therefore it is‘an’ hospital’ in British usage but Americans use ‘a hospital’ since ‘h’ is pronounced over there.

 

·   A/AN is never used before Uncountable/ Plural Nouns.

Words like air, salt, fun, advice do not make use of either a / an.

e.g.: She is a fun to be with. (Wrong)

She is fun to be with. (Right)

This recipe needs  a salt ? (Wrong)

This recipe needs salt. (Right)






English Grammar and Composition

From Correct use of ‘A’ and ‘An’  to HOME PAGE

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.


Recent Articles

  1. Eleventh Grade | Eleventh Grade Science | Eleventh Grade Math

    Jun 27, 25 12:26 AM

    Eleventh grade biology has been designed in accordance with the recommended topics. We will cover all the topics in biology very exciting and interesting way.

    Read More

  2. Explain Digestion of Food | Salivary Glands | Oesophagus | Stomach

    Jun 27, 25 12:20 AM

    Human Digestive System
    Before the digestion is start by the different enzymes secreted from the different digestive glands food must be turned and chut or mixed with saliva inside the mouth.

    Read More

  3. Explain Human Digestive System | Mouth | Tongue | Pharynx | Teeth

    Jun 21, 25 01:15 PM

    Tongue
    Digestive system is a system of alimentary canal and digestive glands. Alimentary canal- alimentary canal is a tube of variable diameter having muscular wall and glandular epithelial tissues which sta…

    Read More

  4. Vernalisation in Plants | Definition | Mechanism | Devernalization |

    Jun 18, 25 01:34 PM

    Photoperiod and Vernalisation
    Definition of vernalisation- The change of flowering habit due to the low temperature treatment is known as vernalisation. This is a physiological process which was denoted by Clipart in 1857 invite b…

    Read More

  5. The Food We Eat | Food we Get from Plants and Animals | Carbohydrates

    Jun 15, 25 03:20 PM

    Food We Eat
    What are the food that we should eat? Find out the names of ten food items in the word maze. Write the names in the correct column of the table given below. Food we get from plants Food we get from an…

    Read More