Since last year, I wanted to make an effort to eat healthier. I researched and collected a lot of recipes. Then I started to make them one by one. The problem was, every time I made a dish, I would forget the recipe the next time I made it. I would have to go back and look at the recipe again every time. But there was one particular dish I loved, a Korean dish which I probably made once a week and because I made it so frequently, I now no longer need to look at the recipe. This is the same with learning English. The more practice, the more you'll remember and soon it will be so natural that you no longer need to stop and think!
A lot of students have trouble remembering the difference between 'a' and 'an.' These are known in English grammar as ARTICLES. They tell us something about a noun. Articles are very common in English and if you don't really speak or write enough in English, it's easy to forget these things even if it's something used so frequently.
First look at how 'a' and 'an' are used below.
A lot of students have trouble remembering the difference between 'a' and 'an.' These are known in English grammar as ARTICLES. They tell us something about a noun. Articles are very common in English and if you don't really speak or write enough in English, it's easy to forget these things even if it's something used so frequently.
First look at how 'a' and 'an' are used below.
What do you notice about the nouns used (underlined)? Are the nouns describing one thing or more than one? If I say, "I have an oven" or "I have a dog" it usually means I have just one. So both 'a' and 'an' are used with singular nouns (one tree, one eye, one bed).
When we use 'a' and 'an,' they both also describe an unspecific noun. When we say 'a dog' we are talking about any dog, not one specific or particular dog. (To refer to a specific dog we must use 'the' instead of 'a' but I will talk more about this later this week).
Then what's the difference between the two? Using the same example, take a look at the underlined letters below.
When we use 'a' and 'an,' they both also describe an unspecific noun. When we say 'a dog' we are talking about any dog, not one specific or particular dog. (To refer to a specific dog we must use 'the' instead of 'a' but I will talk more about this later this week).
Then what's the difference between the two? Using the same example, take a look at the underlined letters below.
Do you notice anything with the first letter of the left column (e,a,o)? They are all part of the English vowel! A, E, I, O, U ! So we use 'an' with singular nouns that start with a vowel. Now you probably know when we use 'a'- with singular nouns that does not start with a vowel (anything that is not A,E,I,O,U).
The general rule is:
Both 'a' and 'an' are used with singular nouns (a car, a burger, a phone)
If the word begins with a vowel (A,E,I,O, U) then we use 'an'
If the word begins with a letter that is NOT a vowel then we use 'a'
There are a few exceptions however!
If a letter makes a sound like sounds like it's a vowel then we use 'an'
For example, 'hour' and ' honest' (even though the 'h' is not a vowel but the letter sounds like a 'o' in this word)
If a letter makes a sound like a consonant then we use 'a'
For example, 'user' and 'university' (even though the 'u' is a vowel but it sounds like 'y')
Do some practice!
Both 'a' and 'an' are used with singular nouns (a car, a burger, a phone)
If the word begins with a vowel (A,E,I,O, U) then we use 'an'
If the word begins with a letter that is NOT a vowel then we use 'a'
There are a few exceptions however!
If a letter makes a sound like sounds like it's a vowel then we use 'an'
For example, 'hour' and ' honest' (even though the 'h' is not a vowel but the letter sounds like a 'o' in this word)
If a letter makes a sound like a consonant then we use 'a'
For example, 'user' and 'university' (even though the 'u' is a vowel but it sounds like 'y')
Do some practice!
Answers:
(1) a (2) an (3) a (4) an (5) a (6) a (7) an (8) a
(1) a (2) an (3) a (4) an (5) a (6) a (7) an (8) a
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