A1 · Lesson 3 · 20 min
A, an and singular nouns
In this lesson
- I can choose a or an before a singular countable noun.
- I can use a or an for jobs and when I mention something for the first time.
Grammar in context
Maya meets a new neighbour at the bus stop. He has a small dog and works at a hotel. Maya says, “Oh, you are an engineer! I have an uncle who is an engineer too.”
Why does Maya say “a hotel” but “an engineer”? Look at the sound at the start of each noun.
One thing: a or an
Use a or an for one thing you can count: a book, an apple. Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. The sound matters: a university, but an umbrella. Do not use a or an with more than one thing: books.
- I have a new phone.
- She eats an orange at lunch.
Jobs
Use a or an with a job: She is a nurse. He is an artist. In questions and negatives, a or an stays before the job: Is she a nurse? She is not a doctor.
- My brother is a bus driver.
- Are you an artist?
First mention
Use a or an when you first talk about one thing and the listener does not know which one. When you mention it again, you can use the: I have a bike. The bike is blue. Do not add a or an before my or this: my bag, this apple.
- There is a café near my flat.
- I see an old bike outside the shop.
Common mistakes
Compare the incorrect and corrected forms.
Avoid
She is nurse.
Use
She is a nurse.
Use a or an before one job noun after be.
Avoid
I have a orange.
Use
I have an orange.
Orange begins with a vowel sound, so use an.
Put it into practice
Try the exercises, write your own examples and check your understanding.