A vs. An
Use the indefinite article a / an before singular count nouns. Use a before consonant sounds, and use an before vowel sounds.
- an apple
- a bear
- an ostrich
- a camel
- an awful sound
- a rotten egg
- an ugly cat
- a small elephant
- an elephant
Words That Start with H or U
Be careful of words that start with h or u. Some words that begin with these two letters start with a vowel sound and some start with a consonant sound.
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For words that start with h, we use a when the h is pronounced, and we use an when the h is silent.
- a helicopter
- an honest politician
- an hour
- a hopeful dreamer
For words that begin with u, we use a when the u is pronounced as a consonant, and an when the u is pronounced as a vowel.
- an umbrella
- a unicorn
- a university
- an unusual gift
Test your knowledge
Directions: Choose the correct answer to fill in each blank. (10 problems)
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