The words a and an are called indefinite articles. We can use them with singular nouns to talk about any single person or thing.
Deciding which indefinite article to place in front of a word depends upon the initial sound of the word, not the first letter of the word.
‘A’ is used before words beginning with a consonant sound.
e.g.
| a usual | a student | a doctor | a hotel |
The article ‘an’ should be placed before words that begin with a vowel sound.
The initial sound should be a, e, i, o, or u.
| an hour | an elephant | an actor | an ice-cream |
1. ‘A’ must be used before words which begin with a vowel symbol pronounced with the same sound as the ‘y’ or a ‘w’-like sound.
e.g.
| a Europe | a uniform | a union | a unique |
| a unitarian | a united | a university | a usual |
| a useful thing | a year | a one-eyed giant | a one-dollar note |
2. Sometimes, ‘an’ is found before words beginning with the letter ‘h’.
Silent ‘h’: ‘an’ is used before these words:
e.g.
| an hour | an honour | an heir | an heirloom |
| an hourly | an honorarium | an honesty | an honorary |
But this practice is going out. If ‘h’ is pronounced, ‘a’ is used:
e.g.
| a hotel | a house | a horse | a human being |
3. We use AN before abbreviations that begin with a vowel sound.
e.g.
| an M.A., | an M.Sc., | an M.B.B.S., | an M.L.A. |
| an N.C.C Officer | an M.Com., | an M.C.A | an M.B.A., |
4. ‘a’ or ‘an’ must be used before a singular noun standing for things that can be counted.
e.g.
| England is a country | London is a city |
| Rice is a cereal | A dog is an animal |
5. ‘a’ or ‘an’ must be used before the names of professions.
e.g.
| His father is a doctor |
| She is an engineer |
6. Words like hero, genius, fool, thief and liar take the indefinite article.
e.g.
| Beware of that fellow; he is a liar |
| My friend is a genius |
7. The following word has indefinite article. Such + a/an + noun (or) Such + a/an + adjective + noun
e.g.
| Such a thing | Such a person |
| Such an honour | Such an interesting story |
8. The following word has indefinite article. so + adjective + a/an + noun
e.g.
| So interesting a person | So nice an opportunity |
9. ‘Few’ and ‘Little’ are negative meaning. ‘A few’ and ‘a little’ are positive and mean 'some'
e.g.
| He has little knowledge of this subject | I have a little money on me |
| He has few friends | I have a few books on this subject |
10. In its original numerical sense of one; as,
e.g.
| Not a word was said | Twelve inches make a foot |
| A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush | I have a book |
11. A, an = one thing or person.
e.g.
| Sara works in a bank | Can I ask a question? |
| I have not got a car | There’s a woman at the bus stop |
12. We use a/an when we say what a thing or a person is.
e.g.
| The sun is a star | Football is a game |
| A mouse is an animal. It’s a small animal | He is a very jolly person |
13. We use a/an for jobs, etc.
e.g.
| I am a dentist | He is a teacher |
| She is a student | Are you an engineer? |
e.g.
| A dog is a faithful animal | Dogs are faithful animals |
Examples of back formation
1.Baby-sit (baby-sitter)
2.Gyre (gyroscope)
3.Edit (editor)