#1 The Noun Phrase : How to use "A" and "An"?

At this moment, We will learn about "What is the differences between A and AN?"
Before you step further, you better go to this Count and Non-Count Nouns topic and do the practice here.

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A and AN

A or an can precede only singular count nouns; they mean one. They can be used in a general statement or to introduce a subject which has not been previously mentioned.

• A baseball is round.           (general -- means all baseballs) 

• I saw a boy in the street     (We don't know which boy)

An is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. A is used before words that begin with a consonant sound.

• a book
• an apple

 Some words can be confusing because the spelling does not indicate the pronunciation

• a house    (begins with a consonant sound)
• an hour    (begins with a vowel sound)
• a university    (begins with a consonant sound)
• an umbrella    (begins with a vowel sound)

 The following words begin with a consonant sound and thus must always be preceded by a.

European	Eulogy	Euphemism	Eucalyptus
House	Home	Heavy	Half
Uniform	University	Universal	Union

The following words begin with a vowel sound and thus must always be preceded by an.

Hour	Heir	Herbal	Honor
Uncle	Umbrella	Unnatural	Understanding

The initial sound of the word that immediately follows the indefinite article will determine whether it should be a or an.

•  an umbrella  -----------  a white umbrella
• an hour  -------------  a whole hour

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