The document discusses the rules for using "a" and "an" with nouns in English. It explains that "a" is used with singular nouns beginning with consonant sounds, while "an" is used with singular nouns beginning with vowel sounds. It provides examples of their correct usage. It also discusses some exceptions, such as using "a" before words beginning with eu and u when they sound like "you".
2. "A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite,
referring to any member of a group. For example:
"My daughter really wants an horse for Christmas." This
refers to any horse. We don't know which horse because
we haven't found the horse yet.
"Somebody call a policeman!" This refers
to any policeman. We don't need a specific policeman; we
need any policeman who is available.
"When I was at the zoo, I saw a leopard!" Here, we're
talking about a single, non-specific thing, in this case a
leopard. There are probably several leopards at the zoo,
but there's only one we're talking about here.
3. a + singular noun beginning with a consonant.
For example:
A car.
A dog.
I have to a zoo.
He is a boy.
She is driver a car.
This is a little cat sexy.
4. an + singular noun beginning with a vowel (a,
e, i, o, u). For example:
a hour
an egg.
I’m eating an apple .
He’s an orphan.
In the zoo there an elephant.
Are you an idiot?
5. With names of jobs:
Caleb is a doctor.
Patricia is training to be an engineer.
She wants to be a singer.
With nationalities and religions:
I am an Englishman.
Katerine is a Catholic.
With musical instruments:
Sherlock Holmes was playing a violin when the
visitor arrived.
(BUT to describe the activity we say "He plays the
violin.")
6. With names of days:
I was born on a Thursday
To refer to a kind of, or example of something:
the mouse had a tiny nose
the elephant had a long trunk
it was a very strange car
With singular nouns, after the
words 'what' and 'such':
What a shame!
She's such a beautiful girl.
meaning 'one', referring to a single object or
person:
I'd like an orange and two lemons please.
The burglar took a diamond necklace and a
valuable painting.
7. A diferencia del castellano, en inglés los
artículos indefinidos no tienen género ni plural
(a book – books; an orange – oranges). Para
decir “unos libros” o “unas naranjas”
necesitamos “some”.
8. An before an h mute - an hour, an honour.
A before u and eu when they sound
like 'you': a european, a university, a unit.
9. Complete the following sentences with a / an
/ some. If no item, enter "zero".
I am___ English teacher. My sister is___ engineer
in___ factory. We have___ aunt and___ uncle.
They live in___ house with___ beautiful garden. In
their garden there is___ apple tree and___ fig
tree. They have___ daughter. She is___ singer.
Victor have___ university.
My parents are___ artists. They paint___ paintings
and sell them on the Internet. My mother is
also___ art teacher. She works in___ school in the
mornings. My father loves___ flowers and has a
balcony with___ flowerpots.