A, an and the
450 fill-in-the-gap exercises, 45 tests of ten
A or an for one of many, the for the one you both mean. The choice between a and an depends on sound.
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The sound rule
A and an are chosen by ear:
| spelling | sound | article |
|---|---|---|
| hour, honest, heir | vowel, h is silent | an |
| university, uniform, European | /juː/ | a |
| MP, MBA, FBI | /em/, /ef/ | an |
| one, once | /wʌn/ | a |
Say the word aloud and listen to the first sound.
From a to the
A noun usually enters a text with a and stays with the:
I’ve bought a car. The car is red.
The first mention introduces; the second refers back.
the for things there is only one of
Within any situation, some things are unique and take the on first mention:
Could you shut the door? — this room has one. I’ll ask the manager. — this shop has one. We watched the sunset.
Professions take a or an
After be, a job or role needs an article in English, unlike in many other languages:
She is a teacher. He became an architect.
the with plural country names and rivers
Most place names take nothing, but a few take the:
the Netherlands, the United States, the Alps, the Thames, the Pacific
The pattern: plurals, groups and bodies of water take the; single countries, cities and lakes do not.
All forms
| Use | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| first mention, consonant sound | a | I saw a fox. |
| first mention, vowel sound | an | I saw an owl. |
| already known | the | The fox was in the garden. |
| only one exists | the | the sun, the kitchen, the manager |
| a job or role | a / an | She is a doctor. |
| superlative | the | the fastest route |
Examples
Taken from the 450 sentences in this drill. The answer is highlighted.
- It was such a cold morning that our pipes froze.
- There was an accident at our crossing this morning.
- I finished the book you lent me last week.
- I saw a famous actor at the mall yesterday.
- He is such an honest man that nobody checks his figures.
- He is going to the university where his sister studies.
- She is wearing a hat that matches her shoes.
- He gave me an interesting book to read.
- I want to visit the Eiffel Tower someday.
- I need to buy a new phone because mine is broken.
- She bought an expensive dress for the party.
- The students in my class are very smart.
Mistakes to avoid
Wrong: He is a honest man. correct: He is an honest man.
The h is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound.
Wrong: She studies at an university. correct: She studies at a university.
University begins with the sound /juː/, which counts as a consonant sound.
Wrong: Can you pass a salt? correct: Can you pass the salt?
There is one salt on the table and you both know which.