Indefinite article: 'a' and 'an'

Exercises

What are a and an?

• A and an are called indefinite articles.

• They mean “one” and are used when we talk about something not specific or new.

When to use a/an

Talking about something for the first time

• I have a cat.

• She bought a book yesterday.

Talking about any one of something, not a specific one

• Can I have a pen? (any pen, not a special one)

• Do you want a sandwich?

Describing jobs

• He is a teacher.

• She is an engineer.

With numbers, times, or measurements

• I go to the gym three times a week.

• Bananas cost $1.50 a kilo.

A or An?

• Use a before words that start with a consonant sound.
  a dog, a house, a university (you = consonant sound).

• Use an before words that start with a vowel sound.
  an apple, an hour (silent “h”), an honest person.

Important notes

Don’t use a/an with:

Plural noun: a dogs → ✔ dogs

Uncountable nouns: an information → ✔ information