A1/A2 · Grammar
Articles: a, an and the
After this page you can choose a or an by the first sound, use a/an for new things and for jobs, and use the for something you both know.
Rules
1.
a or an? Listen to the first sound
- Ahmed has a car and a bike.
- I have an idea!
- Lucy eats an apple every day.
a and an mean one. Use them with a singular noun. Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound.
a or an?
- a + consonant sound: a book, a phone, a city, a big flat
- an + vowel sound: an apple, an email, an orange, an old car
An adjective can come before the noun. Then the adjective decides: a flat → an old flat, an apple → a big apple.
consonant sound → a · vowel sound → an
Look at the next word: an old car, but a new car.
2.
The sound counts, not the letter
- The film starts in an hour.
- Priya works at a university in Edinburgh.
- Lucy wears a uniform at work.
Some words start with a silent h: you hear a vowel first, so use an. Some words start with u or eu that sounds like you: you hear a consonant first, so use a.
Letter or sound?
- silent h → an: an hour, an honest person
- h you can hear → a: a hotel, a house, a holiday
- u, eu like you → a: a university, a uniform, a euro
- u like the u in bus → an: an umbrella, an uncle
Listen, do not look: an hour (no h sound), a university (you-niversity).
Not sure? Say the word aloud and listen to the first sound.
3.
a/an: one of many, or new information
- Can I have a coffee, please?
- Is there a bank near here?
- Olga has a meeting at ten.
Use a/an for one thing of many: it is not important which one. Use it also when you say something for the first time: it is new for the other person.
When a/an?
- one of many: I need a pen. → any pen is OK
- new information: Tom has a new job. → you hear about it for the first time
There is no a/an with plural nouns: I have a pen → I have two pens. For things in general, use the plural with no article: I like cats. You learn more about this later, in the lesson The or no article?
.
one of many or new → a/an
plural → no a/an: a bag → bags
4.
a/an with jobs
- Marek is a doctor.
- Sofia is an engineer in Cardiff.
- Are you a teacher?
- My sisters are nurses.
When you say a person's job, use a/an before the job. Do not leave it out.
Jobs
- I am a student. · He is a cook.
- She is an architect. · Tom is an actor.
- plural: They are teachers. (no a/an)
job → a/an: I'm a cook, not I'm cook.
Two or more people: no a/an: We are nurses.
5.
the: you both know which one
- I have a dog and a cat. The dog is old.
- Where is the key? – On the table.
- Can you open the window, please?
Use the when the other person knows which thing you mean. You say it for the second time, or there is only one in the situation.
a/an → the
- first time: I have a new phone. → second time: The phone is red.
- only one in the room: Close the door, please.
- only one in the world: the sun, the moon
the has one form for singular and plural nouns: the flat, the flats.
new → a/an · known → the
the + singular or plural: the key, the keys
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