a and an follow the sound

Learning outcome

You can choose a or an from the first sound of the next word, not from the first letter.

Concepts and reasons

a and an both mean one of a kind. The choice is the sound that follows. Use a before a consonant sound. Use an before a vowel sound. The vowel letters are a, e, i, o, u, but the rule follows sound, so a letter and a sound can disagree.

university begins with the sound yoo, a consonant sound, so it takes a: a university. The same yoo sound gives a European and a uniform. hour begins with a silent h, so the first sound is ow, a vowel sound: an hour. The same silent h gives an honest person and an heir. Abbreviations follow the spoken first sound. MBA is said em-bee-ay, and em is a vowel sound: an MBA. FIR is said ef, so an FIR. One is said wun, a consonant sound: a one-rupee coin.

Worked examples

1. She is a university student. The first sound is yoo.
2. He returned in an hour. The h is silent.
3. This is a one-way road. one begins with a w sound.

Common traps

Do not put an before every word that starts with u. a university is right. an umbrella is also right, because umbrella begins with the vowel sound uh. Do not put a before every word that starts with h. an hour is right because the h is silent. a horse is right because the h is spoken. the is a different choice. This lesson only decides between a and an.

Practice questions

1. He is ___ honest officer.
2. She bought ___ European painting.
3. We heard ___ FIR on the radio.

Answers and explanations

1. an. honest begins with a silent h, so the first sound is a vowel.
2. a. European begins with the consonant sound yoo.
3. an. FIR is spoken as ef, and ef is a vowel sound.

Analogy

a and an are the door you open before a word. Listen to the first sound that comes through the door. The letter painted on the door can be a disguise.

Quick reference

• a before a consonant sound. an before a vowel sound.
• a university, a European, a uniform, a one-rupee coin.
• an hour, an honest person, an heir, an MBA, an FIR.
• an umbrella, a horse. Sound wins over the first letter.