Introduce one nonspecific person or thing with the indefinite article a or an.
The idea
Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound, with a singular countable noun: a bicycle, an umbrella. Listen to the next sound, not just the spelling: an hour begins with a vowel sound because the h is silent; a useful book begins with a /j/ sound.
Examples
- I have a bicycle.
- She has an umbrella.
- We need a map.
- He is an engineer.
- It takes an hour.
- This is a useful book.
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Watch out
Do not choose solely by the first written letter: an hour and a useful book show why sound matters. Do not use a or an with a plural noun.
Try it yourself
I have ___ bicycle.
Show answer or example answer
a
a comes before the consonant sound at the start of bicycle.
She has ___ umbrella.
Show answer or example answer
an
an comes before the vowel sound at the start of umbrella.
It takes ___ hour.
Show answer or example answer
an
hour starts with a vowel sound because its written h is silent, so use an.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
I have ___ bicycle.
She has ___ umbrella.
It takes ___ hour.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Find three singular objects near you. Write a phrase for each with a or an, and say the first sound aloud.