Article A/An
A/an
We use a/an with singular nouns.
- This is a table.
- It’s an orange.
We use a with nouns beginning with a consonant, and we use an with nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u).
- Give me an apple.
- There is an elephant in the zoo.
- It’s an amazing experience.
We also use an with nouns beginning with h if the h is not pronounced. But we use a if the h is pronounced.
- Give me an hour.
- I want to buy a hat.
We use a and NOT an with nouns beginning with u when it is pronounced like university.
- Is there a university in this city?
- I wear a uniform.
Plurals in English
Do not use a + plural
We do NOT use a/an with plural nouns.
- These are tables.
- These are a tables.
Regular plurals
We add -s to make plural nouns in English. Sometimes we need to add -es, -ies or –ves. Check the spelling in the grammar chart above.
Irregular plurals
Some words have irregular plurals and do NOT add -s to make their plural form.
Use a/an
First mention
We use a/an when we mention something for the first time.
- I saw an old woman with a dog in the park.
Jobs and descriptions
We use a/an to talk about people’s jobs or to say what kind of person or thing something/somebody is.
- Paula is a teacher.
- Paris is an interesting city.
- When I was a teenager, I enjoyed sleeping.
You cannot use singular countable nouns alone (without a, the, my, etc.)
- I don’t have driving license.
- I don’t have a driving license.
- This hotel doesn’t have spa.
- This hotel doesn’t have a spa.