Lesson 1: A, an (the Indefinite Articles)

An, An

The Indefinite Articles

Pretest:

Put in a, an:

__________________1. university

__________________2. hour

__________________3. MP

__________________4. man

__________________5. hat

__________________6. apple

__________________7. elephant

__________________8. book

__________________9. child

__________________10. island

When do you use the form a ?

The form a is used before a word beginning with a consonant, or a vowel with a consonant sound:

à a man

à a European

à a one-way street

When do you use the form an ?

The form an is used before words beginning with a
vowel (a,e, i , o, u) or words beginning with a mute h:

à an egg

à an uncle

à an egg

à an honest man

or individual letters spoken with a vowel sound:

à an L-plate

à an SOS

à an ‘x’

Take note: a,an is the same for all genders:

à a man, a woman

à an actor, an actress

à a table

Exercise:

Put in a, an :

__________________1. computer

__________________2. eggplant

__________________3. heir

­­­__________________4. tree

__________________5. activity

__________________6. ice-cream cone

__________________7. X-ray machine

__________________8. pen

__________________9. ocean

__________________10. honor

__________________11. umbrella

__________________12. unique name

__________________13. bottle

__________________14. one-time offer

__________________15. M16 rifle