Articles A and An Exercises, Quiz, Worksheet

In English, we use two small words called indefinite articles to talk about singular nouns: a and an. These words are important because they help us talk about one thing.

Articles A and An - Exercises and Quiz

These exercises focus on articles and their usage

What Are A and An?

Both a and an mean "one" of something, but we use them in different situations. Here’s how to know which one to use:

A: Use a before words that start with a consonant sound.

Example: a book, a car, a dog

An: Use an before words that start with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).

Example: an apple, an elephant, an umbrella

Illustration of Indefinite Articles: A and An

Basic Rules for Using A and An

Use A Before:	Use An Before:
Words that start with a consonant:	Words that start with a vowel:
a cat	an orange
a house	an egg
a pencil	an idea
a ball	an hour (silent "h")

How to Choose Between A and An

To decide if you should use a or an, listen to the sound of the word, especially the first letter.

A: If the word starts with a consonant sound (b, c, d, etc.), use a.

Example: I have a pen.

An: If the word starts with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u), use an.

Example: She ate an ice cream.

Common Examples

Word	Correct Article	Example Sentence
Dog	a	This is a dog.
Apple	an	I see an apple.
Car	a	He drives a car.
Elephant	an	We saw an elephant.
Chair	a	She sat on a chair.
Egg	an	I ate an egg for breakfast.

Special Cases to Remember

Silent "H": If a word starts with a silent "h" (you don’t hear the "h"), use an.

Example: an hour (the "h" is silent, so it sounds like "our").

Words with "U" and "O" Sounds:

Use a when "u" sounds like "you".

Example: a university, a uniform.

Use an when "u" sounds like "uh" or "o" sounds like "oh".

Example: an umbrella, an honor (silent "h").

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

Using the wrong article with vowel sounds:

Incorrect: I see a elephant.
Correct: I see an elephant.

Forgetting the rule for silent "h":

Incorrect: It takes a hour.
Correct: It takes an hour.

Everyday Practice with A and An

You can use a and an in many sentences when talking about one thing:

I have a book in my bag.
She bought an orange from the store.
There is a cat under the table.
He wants an ice cream.

You may also find learning about Definite Article The. Also bear in mind that nouns can be countable and uncountable which influences the usage of articles as well.

FAQ

What’s the difference between "a" and "an"?

A is used before words that start with a consonant sound (like "b" or "c"), and an is used before words that start with a vowel sound (like "a" or "e").

Can I use "a" with "apple"?

No, "apple" starts with a vowel sound, so you need to use an: "an apple."

Why do we say "an hour" but "a house"?

"Hour" has a silent "h", so it starts with a vowel sound, making it "an hour." "House" has a strong "h" sound, so it is "a house."

Do I always use "a" with "university"?

Yes, because "university" starts with a "you" sound, not a vowel sound. So, it’s "a university."

How can I practice using "a" and "an"?

Practice by looking at things around you and saying "a" or "an" before them. For example, "a chair", "an apple", "a computer", "an orange."

Indefinite Articles: A and An