Indefinite article (a/an): How and When to Use in English

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Indefinite article (a/an)

Reminder: We use the for a specific person or thing. The is used for singular and plural nouns.

the day

the years

The indefinite article is used when the person/thing is unknown or for general statements. It means “one” or “any”. 

I have a brother. 

We sing a song.

London is a nice city.

We use a before a consonant and an before a, e, i, o, u or silent h.

a dog

an apple

an hour

In the plural, there is no indefinite article.

Chickens don't fly.

Exercise 1

Select the correct option – a, an or [-] for no article. 

city

egg

shoes (plural)

Select the correct option – a, an or [-] for no article. 

a 1 city

an 2 egg

[-] 3 shoes (plural)

1 a:

We say a city, because it begins with a consonant (c). Examples: a woman, a man.

1 an:

We can use an before a word that begins with a vowel or silent h- , but city begins with a consonant. Examples: an aunt, an hour.

1 [-]:

We could just say cities, without an indefinite article because it's a plural word, but we do need one before the singular city. Examples: streets, shops.

2 an:

We say an egg because it begins with a vowel (e). Examples: an olive, an accident.

2 a:

We can use a before a word that begins with a consonant, but egg begins with a vowel. Examples: a tree, a school.

2 [-]:

We could just say eggs, without an indefinite article because it's a plural word, but we do need one before the singular egg. Examples: hands, computers.

3 [-]:

We say shoes, without an indefinite article, because it's a plural word. Examples: hotels, rooms.

3 an:

We can't use an before shoes because it's a plural word. Examples: an offer, an eye.

3 a :

We can say a shoe (singular), but shoes is a plural word. Examples: a horse, a dollar.

Exercise 2

Select the correct option – a, an or [-] for no article.

hour

shop

cars (plural)

Select the correct option – a, an or [-] for no article.

an 1 hour

a 2 shop

[-] 3 cars (plural)

1 an:

We say an hour because it begins with a silent h- (hour). Examples: an honor, an heir.

1 a:

We can't use a before hour because the h- is silent, though we can use it before words beginning with a non-silent h-. Examples: a house, a hat.

1 [-]:

We could say hours, without an indefinite article because it's a plural word, but we do need one before the singular hour. Examples: minutes, seconds.

2 a:

We say a shop because it begins with a consonant sound (shop). Examples: a ship, a shower.

2 an:

We can use an before a word that begins with a vowel or silent h- , but shop begins with a consonant sound. Examples: an idiot, an hour.

2 [-]:

We could say shops, without an indefinite article because it's a plural word, but we do need one before the singular shop. Examples: stores, customers.

3 [-]:

We say cars, without an indefinite article, because it's a plural word. Examples: bikes, trucks.

3 a:

We can say a car (singular), but cars is a plural word. Examples: a bike, a truck.

3 an:

We can't use an before cars because it's a plural word. Examples: an apple, an umbrella.

Exercise 3

Select the correct option – a, an or [-] for no article.

apple

hotels (plural)

fork

Select the correct option – a, an or [-] for no article.

an 1 apple

[-] 2 hotels (plural)

a 3 fork

1 an:

We say an apple because it begins with a vowel (a). Examples: an orange, an apricot.

1 [-]:

We could say apples, without an indefinite article because it's a plural word, but we do need one before the singular apple. Examples: bananas, pears.

1 a:

We can say a tomato or a plum, but apple begins with a vowel.

2 [-]:

We say hotels, without an indefinite article, because it's a plural word. Examples: houses, gardens.

2 an:

We can't use an before hotels because it's a plural word. Examples: an apple, an onion.

2 a:

We can't use a before hotels because it's a plural word. Examples: a pool, a garden.

3 a:

We say a fork because it begins with a consonant (f). Examples: a knife, a spoon.

3 an:

We can use an before a word that begins with a vowel or silent h- , but fork begins with a consonant. Examples: an idiot, an hour.

3 [-]:

We could say forks, without an indefinite article because it's a plural word, but we do need one before the singular fork. Examples: knives, spoons.

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