A & An: Review

"A" or "An"?

I thought this would be a good time to review "a" and "an" (indefinite articles which were covered here in October).  

First, we use a/an in the following situations:

In writing when we introduce something for the first time. (I was looking for a post office near my hotel in Paris. The clerk said, "Try the post office around the corner on Rue Belleville). 

When we're writing/talking about something in general, unspecified. (I'm looking for a coffee shopm Chen needs a new blazer for the party, There's a large river near here,  etc). 

We don't use a/an for countries, cities, famous/well-known places, people's names, plurals, etc.

(x) I went to a Spain last year. 

(correct) I went to Spain. 

A: Which Starbucks did you go to?

B: Oh, you know, a Starbucks on the corner of 6th Street and Columbia Avenue. (x)

      Oh, you know, the Starbucks on the corner of 6th Street and Columbia Avenue.(correct)

"a" and "an" have the same meaning but:

We use "an" for words that start with vowels (a,e,i,o,u) or have vowel sounds .

Example:  an eraser, an hour (vowel sound)

We "a" for words that start with consonants (b,c,d,f,g,h,j,k, etc)

Also, watch out for compound nouns: a bus stop, an Irish coffee, etc. The first letter of the first word tells whether to use "a" or "an". 

To practice a/an (and the), go on to this website here and/or try the exercises below.

Complete the sentences below with  "a" or "an" and the correct noun (don't worry about brand names).

Be careful: there's a sentence where you won't need "a" or "an" (or even "the"). You may use the comments section to write your answers.

 1/  I'd like ___  __________ , well-done, with mushrooms, please.

2/ Fen bought __ stylish new ______ yesterday.

 

3/ We're very excited about our trip to __ ______. 

4/ Chris saw __  purple octopus while scuba-diving in Saipan.

5/ Jiro has __ orange ______ ___. It looks cool.