Difference Between A and An: When & How to use them (Easy!)
-
Teacher Mei
What is the difference between A and An? When and How should you use these indefinite articles? Find out Now!
This post will help you understand the difference between “a” and “an” and teach you when and how to use them. English has two indefinite articles: “a” and “an.” People use them to refer to an unknown or not-specific noun.
For instance, “I am reading a book.” The speaker doesn’t specify which book; it could be any book!
Here’s another example: “We saw an alligator at the zoo yesterday.” Nobody knows this alligator’s identity; it’s not a particular alligator. (We don’t know if it’s Sally or Daisy the alligator!).
Remember to use these articles correctly. They show if the next word starts with a vowel or consonant sound (and not just the letter itself).
When to use "A"
We use “A” before words that start with a consonant sound. Take “a book,” for example. We say it this way because “book” begins with a consonant sound (b).
When to use "An"
We use “an” before words that start with a vowel sound. Take “an apple” as an example. We say it this way because “apple” begins with a vowel sound (a).
To understand the difference between A and An, you need to understand these two individual words first:
Understanding "a" versus "an"
When we look at the “a” and “an” usage or what these words mean, we see they do the same job in grammar (they have the same grammatical function, that is). But these two words sound different when we say or pronounce them.
“A” sounds like “uh,” and “an” sounds like “uhn.” This difference in pronunciation, or how they sound, decides when to use an instead of a or a instead of an in a sentence. We use “a” before consonant sounds and “an” before vowel sounds. Simple right?
Incorrect: A egg Correct: An egg
Incorrect: An dog Correct: A dog
Check out this sentence below as an example. It shows the right way to use both articles:
Last night during supper, I ate a juicy Angus steak with a delicious glass of wine and finished the meal with an iced coffee dessert. (They were out of chocolate brownies!).
So when do you use “an” or “a”? There are a few key points or what I call “a” vs “an” rules to remember. These rules will help you to use the correct article every time, no kidding!
In the next parts, we’ll explain these tips and tricks so you can use “a” and “an” confidently, without any doubt or confusion.
Now that you know the difference between A and An, letʻs see When and How to use these articles:
When and how to use \"a\"
When using the indefinite article “a,” the general rule of thumb is to use it before a word that begins with a consonant. However, there are some exceptions to this rule! The most important thing to consider or look out for is the sound (audible) of the word’s first letter, not necessarily the letter itself.
For example, we use “a” before “university” (a university) even though it begins with a vowel letter. This happens because “university” sounds like it starts with “yu” (pronounced as “juːnɪˈvɜːsətiː”).
Let’s take a look at some more examples of words starting with a vowel letter but having a consonant sound:
Correct: A man in a uniform stopped us from entering the building. (ˈjuːnɪfɔːm)
Correct: Everyone around the table started laughing when Mary arrived at dinner wearing a onesie. (ˈwʌn.zi)
Apart from its role as an indefinite article, “a” also has other uses and meanings:
- It can mean “the same,” as in the popular idiom “birds of a feather flock together.”
- It can also be used as a function word to form an adverbial phrase of quantity, amount, or degree, as in the sentence “she felt a bit overwhelmed.”
- In some instances, “a” can be used as a preposition meaning “per,” such as in the sentence “he was racing along at a mile a minute.”
Now that you know about “a,” let’s explore its partner, “an.”
When and how to use \"an\"
As I explained earlier in the post, we put “an” before words that start with a vowel. But sometimes, we use “an” before words that begin with a consonant if the first sound we hear is a vowel sound.
Let’s look at some examples:
Take the words “an honest” (ɔnist) and “an LPG” (el pi: dʒi:). These words don’t start with a vowel on paper, but when we say them out loud, the first sound we hear is a vowel sound.
In these cases, “an” should be used instead of “a.”
A handy trick to pick the right article is to say the word out loud. If it begins with a vowel sound, go with “an.” To make this clearer, check out these examples:
Correct: Lisa made an omelet for breakfast.
Correct: It took me an hour (aʊr) to get to work this morning because I got stuck in traffic.
Similar to “a,” “an” also has an alternative definition or meaning that you may run into in English writing or speech, where “an” is used as a preposition meaning “per.”
Here’s an example:
Correct: He drove to the hospital at sixty miles an hour.
Conclusion
Remembering the difference between "a" and "an" and when to use them:
In short, whenever you’re unsure when to use “a” or “an,” just remember the easy fix!
All you need to do is say the word out loud, check if it starts with a vowel or consonant sound (not the actual letter but the sound it produces), and use “a” before words that begin with a consonant sound and “an” before words that start with a vowel sound.
This simple tip will make it super easy for you to choose the right indefinite article every time you need to.
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Support me by sharing this post:
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Receive language learning tips, helpful resources, special offers and more!
