1. Overview:
The indefinite articles "a" and "an" are used to talk about one thing that is not specific. We use "a" before words that start with a consonant sound and "an" before words that start with a vowel sound. They help us describe a single item or person.
2. Cases of Usage:
Case 1: Use "a" before a noun that starts with a consonant sound.
Example: I see a dog.
Case 2: Use "an" before a noun that starts with a vowel sound.
Example: She has an apple.
Case 3: Use "a" or "an" with an adjective to describe a noun.
Example: This is a big cat.
Example: That is an old book.
3. Exceptions or Things to Pay Attention To:
- "A" is used before words starting with a consonant sound, not just letters. For example, we say "a university" because "university" starts with a "yoo" sound.
- "An" is used before words that start with a vowel sound, even if the first letter is a consonant. For example, we say "an hour" because "hour" starts with a silent "h" and the first sound is a vowel sound.
4. Additional Notes:
Common mistakes include using "a" before vowel sounds and "an" before consonant sounds. Remember to listen to the first sound of the word, not just the first letter.
