A vs. AN: Indefinite Articles

Both A and AN are indefinite articles in English, and they mean exactly the same thing. They are used before singular, countable nouns when you are not referring to a specific item. However, the choice between A and AN depends entirely on the sound of the word that follows—not necessarily the first letter of that word. Let’s break this down in detail:

Using A Before Consonant Sounds

The article A is used when the word following it begins with a consonant sound. Here are some examples:

A car
A day
A street
A building
A dog
A new book

These examples demonstrate that A is placed before words that start with a sound produced by consonants such as C, D, S, B, and N.

Using AN Before Vowel Sounds

The article AN is used when the word following it begins with a vowel sound. Examples include:

An ant
An ear
An apple
An earring
An orange
An old house

Here, AN precedes words that start with vowel sounds like A, E, I, O, and U.

The Key Rule: It’s About the Sound, Not the Letter

One of the most important things to remember is that the choice between A and AN depends on the sound of the word, not its spelling. Sometimes, words begin with a silent consonant or an unusual vowel sound. Let’s look at some examples:

Words with Silent Consonants:

An hour — The “H” in hour is silent, so the word starts with a vowel sound.
A happy hour — The “H” in happy is pronounced, so the word starts with a consonant sound.

Words with Unusual Vowel Sounds:

An umbrella — The “U” in umbrella sounds like the vowel uh, so AN is used.
A university — The “U” in university sounds like the consonant you, so A is used.

More Examples:

An honest mistake (silent “H”)
A house (pronounced “H”)
An hourglass (silent “H”)
A unicorn (“U” sounds like “you”)

Practice with A vs. AN

Here are some sentences to test your understanding:

I bought ___ orange from the market. (AN)
She is looking for ___ unique gift. (A)
He waited for ___ hour before leaving. (AN)
They stayed at ___ hotel near the beach. (A)
We saw ___ eagle flying in the sky. (AN)

Tips to Remember

Always say the word out loud to identify whether it begins with a vowel or consonant sound.
Focus on pronunciation, not spelling.
Remember that exceptions often occur with silent letters or unique vowel sounds.

By mastering this simple rule, you’ll sound more natural and confident when using English articles!

A vs. AN: Multiple-Choice Exercise

Choose the correct indefinite article (A or AN) for each sentence.

1 / 12

She is reading ___ interesting book about history.

2 / 12

I saw ___ elephant at the zoo.

3 / 12

We stayed at ___ hotel near the beach.

4 / 12

He waited for ___ hour before the train arrived.

5 / 12

There is ___ unicorn in the story.

6 / 12

She bought ___ apple from the market.

7 / 12

They found ___ one-dollar bill on the ground.

8 / 12

He made ___ honest effort to complete the project.

9 / 12

We need ___ university degree to apply for the job.

10 / 12

She wore ___ unusual dress to the party.

11 / 12

I want to adopt ___ dog from the shelter.

12 / 12

He ate ___ orange for breakfast.

Your score is

The average score is 91%