Elementary: A or An?

The choice of article (a or an) depends on the sound of the first letter in a word, not always on how it is written.

An is used with words that start with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u), the rest are used with a.

Complete the following exchanges with a or an:

• 1) A: Would you like __ glass of water?
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 2) B: No, thank you. I just had __ orange juice.
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 2) A: Do you have __ dictionary?
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 2) B: Yes. I have __ English/Portuguese one.
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 3) A: I'm so hungry! I've only had __ apple today.
  
  a
  an
  
  
• 3) B: Come on! I'll buy you __ hotdog!
  
  a
  an
  
  
• 4) A: Caroline bought __ new dress for the party.
  
  a
  an
  
  
• 4) B: I should go shopping! I don't have __ thing to wear.
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 5) A: Could I borrow __ pencil please?
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 5) B: Sure. Here's one with __ eraser attached.
  
  a
  an
  
  
• 6) A: I heard __ new Madonna song today.
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 6) B: I don’t like it. I think she is __ awful singer.
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 7) A: My brother has got __ new mobile phone.
  
  a
  an
  
  
• 7) B: Really? I should get __ new one too.
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 8) A: Calvin has __ date tonight.
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 8) B: I know. She is __ actress!
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 9) A: We have __ new neighbour.
  
  a
  an
  
  
• 9) B: Is she the one who drives __ red car?
  
  a
  an
  
  
• 10) A: I saw __ elephant at the zoo.
  
  an
  a
  
  
• 10) B: What kind? __ African elephant?
  
  an
  a