Practice
Indefinite articles: a and an explained
You may write a university but an umbrella. The first letters are both vowels, yet the opening sounds are different.
Choose a or an by listening for the first sound of a singular countable noun phrase.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
She is an honest manager. /ʃi ɪz ən ˈɑːnɪst ˈmænɪdʒər/
The short answer
Use a before a consonant sound: a book, a university, a useful tool. Use an before a vowel sound: an apple, an hour, an MBA. Listen to the first sound of the next word.
She is an honest manager.
Why it works: Honest begins with a vowel sound because the h is silent.
5 more examples
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I bought a used bicycle last week.
Used begins with the consonant sound /j/, so it takes a.
Not this:I bought
an old bicyclelast week. What changes: Old begins with a vowel sound, so it takes an. -
We waited for an hour outside.
The h in hour is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound.
Not this:We waited for
a hotel manageroutside. What changes: Hotel begins with an audible h sound, so it takes a. -
My neighbor is a university lecturer.
University begins with the /j/ sound, like you.
Not this:My neighbor is
an art lecturer. What changes: Art begins with a vowel sound, so it takes an. -
He sent an email after lunch.
Email begins with a vowel sound.
Not this:He sent
a messageafter lunch. What changes: Message begins with a consonant sound, so it takes a. -
She is an MBA student.
The letter M is pronounced /em/, which begins with a vowel sound.
Not this:She shared
a URLwith the class. What changes: The letter U is pronounced /juː/, which begins with a consonant sound.
Read the full guide
First, say the next word aloud. If it begins with a vowel sound, choose an. If it begins with a consonant sound, choose a. This rule works even when the first letter can make the choice look surprising.
Start with the sound
Say the next word aloud before you choose the article. A goes before a consonant sound. An goes before a vowel sound.
I need an umbrella for the rain.
Umbrella begins with a vowel sound, so an is the natural choice.
Which article fits before notebook?
Use a: I need a notebook for the meeting.
Use the article with one countable noun
Use a or an with one countable noun when you introduce it generally. You can count one chair, one idea, or one appointment.
We have a meeting at three.
Meeting is singular and countable, so it can take a.
Does plural books take a or an in general?
No. Say I read books, not I read a books.
Watch words with an unusual first letter
A vowel letter does not always make a vowel sound. University begins with /j/, so it takes a. A consonant letter can be silent, as in hour, so it takes an.
They rented a European apartment.
European begins with the /j/ sound, like you.
Choose the article: We waited for ___ hour.
Use an: We waited for an hour.
Say abbreviations aloud
For an abbreviation, choose the article from the sound of its first spoken letter. Do not choose from the letter's shape.
An FBI agent spoke to the group.
F is pronounced /ef/, so the abbreviation begins with a vowel sound.
Which article fits before USB drive?
Use a: I need a USB drive because U begins with /juː/.
Check the full noun phrase
Choose the article from the first sound after the article, even when an adjective comes before the noun. The noun itself may begin with a different sound.
She found an interesting job online.
Interesting is the first word after the article, and it begins with a vowel sound.
Choose the article: He is ___ good engineer.
Use a: He is a good engineer.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose a or an by the first sound, not by the first letter. Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. Then check that the noun is singular and countable.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Indefinite articles: a and an explained"
What is the difference between a and an?
A and an have the same basic meaning. Both introduce one singular countable noun that is not yet specific. Choose a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. The choice helps English speakers say the article and the next word smoothly.
I bought a used bicycle last week.
Why do we say a university but an umbrella?
The first letter does not decide the article. University begins with the consonant sound /j/, like the first sound in you, so it takes a. Umbrella begins with a vowel sound, so it takes an. Say the word aloud when spelling makes the choice unclear.
I bought an old bicycle last week.
Why does hour take an instead of a?
In hour, the h is silent in standard pronunciation. The word begins with a vowel sound, so English uses an: an hour. Compare hotel, where the h is spoken. Hotel begins with a consonant sound, so it usually takes a: a hotel.
We waited for an hour outside.
How do I choose a or an before an abbreviation?
Say the first letter of the abbreviation. Use an if that spoken letter begins with a vowel sound, as in an FBI agent because F is pronounced /ef/. Use a if it begins with a consonant sound, as in a URL because U is pronounced /juː/.
We waited for a hotel manager outside.
Can I use a or an before every noun?
No. A and an normally go with one singular countable noun. Do not use them with a plural noun when you speak generally, such as books, or with most uncountable nouns, such as information. Use another determiner when the meaning needs one.
My neighbor is a university lecturer.