The indefinite article – a, an

1. The indefinite article – a

The indefinite article a is the same for all genders.

• a boy
• a girl
• a cat

The indefinite article has no plural form.

• a boy → boys

We use an if the following word starts with a spoken vowel.

the following word starts with a spoken consonant	the following word starts with a spoken vowel
a boy a school a girl a house	an aunt an old school an American girl an hour
Mind the pronunciation of the following word.
The first sound we speak is [j], so we use a → a unit	The first sound we speak is [ʌ], so we use an → an uncle
The first sound we speak is [h], so we use a → a house	silent [h] an → an hour

2. Use of the indefinite article a/an

2.1. before phrases of time and measurements (per week/weekly)

• We have English 4 times a week.
• I go on holiday twice a year.
• Our car can do 220 kilometres an hour.
• Tomatoes are $2 a kilo.

2.2. before phrases of jobs

• My father is a car mechanic.

2.3. with a noun complement

• He is a good boy.

2.4. before phrases of nationality

• Bruce Springsteen is an American.

2.5. half/quite

• We need half a pound of sugar.
• This is quite a good story.

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