EK OM CVV The choice between a and an is determined by sound.

(a) Use to A Rules governing the use of the Indefinite article a. It is used:

1.

(b)

Before a word beginning with a consonant with a consonant sound. a boy, a teacher, a man, a girl, a tree etc. 2. Before a word beginning with u or eu giving the consonant sound of yu. a university, a union, a unique person, a unit, a utensil, a useful book, a uniform, a eulogy, a European etc. 3. Before a word that begins with a vowel (especially O) with the sound of w (=wa). A one-rupee note, a one-eyed man but an owl, an ounce. 4. Before all abbreviations said as individual letters that begin with B, C, D, G, J, K, P, Q, T, U, V or W. a B.B.C. news reader, a C.B.I. agent, a D.I.G., a G.P.O. system, a J.N.T.U. faculty, a K.G.H. doctor, a T.C., a U.T.I. agent, a V.I.P. suitcase. Use to An 1. Before a word that begins with a vowel symbol giving a vowel sound. An apple, an ape, an engineer, an Italian, an orange, an Umbrella, an urchin. 2. Before a word beginning with a silent h. An honest man, an heir, an hour, an honourary magistrate, an hourly report, an honorarium etc.

3.

Before an abbreviation said as individual letters that begin with A, E, F, H, I, L, M, N, O, R, S or X. An A.C.B. inspector, an E.C.I.L. employee, an F.C.I. Gowdown, an H.P. printer, an I.T.C. product, an L.M.L. scooter, an M.P., an M.A., an NIIT Center, an S.P., an X-Ray. Uses of A or An as Indefinite Articles He stayed here for a month. Give me a hundred rupee note.

A or An is used in the following ways. 1. In the numerical sense of one. I bought a Parker pen yesterday. 2.

In the sense of every. We have been paying a rent of 3000 rupees a month. (per month / every month) I present her a wrist watch on her birth day. (one) in our town. 3.

There is a school for the blind

In the sense of some, single or any. Why dont you see a doctor? (Some / any) A good teacher can help you in this regard. (any teacher) I am looking for a bungalow. Can you show me a good hotel near by?

4.

Before a singular countable common noun in a general sense to represent a class of things / while defining something. A cow is a very useful animal. (all cows) An elephant is an emotional being. A linguist is one who analyzes languages. A triangle has three sides. (all triangles Note : Often, the definite article the too is used with singular countable nouns to represent a class of things. The cow is a useful animal. (all cows) The owl is a nocturnal animal.

Imp. Note : When the nouns man or woman are used in the sense of mankind or womankind as a whole, no article should be used. Man is mortal Woman is the hub of every home. 5. A / an is used with a singular countable noun when the person or thing the noun refers to is introduced or mentioned for the first time in the conversation. We have an Italian engineer in our company. He doesnt speak much English. Yesterday I bought a Philips music system. a/an is sometimes used to refer to what a persons occupation is, was or will be. Suneetha was a housekeeper in Taj Residency. He is a software professional now. In certain expressions of quantity. A great deal of a great many a lot of a little a good many a dozen He is a Ravi Varma. (a great

6. 7. 8.

Before a proper noun to makes is a common noun. He is a Newton. (a great scientist) He is a Shakespeare. (a great dramatist) painter) In certain phrases. Make a mess at a loss a bad cold a bad headache a severe pain

9. 10. 11.

With certain divisions/fractions and numerical expressions: A hundred a thousand a million 1/3, 1/4 (but one is also possible) a third, a quarter etc. In expression of price, speed, ratio etc. He drove the car at a speed of 70 kilometers an hour.He bought apples for Rs. 20 a dozen. times a day. In exclamations, before singular countable nouns. What a wonderful shot! What an interesting film! Before Mr/Miss/Mrs + Noun. A Mr. Kamalkanth. (a) A Mr. Kamalkanth denotes a person who is called Kamalkanth. It implies that he is a stranger to the speaker. A Mr. Kamalkanth is waiting for you at the reception. A Miss Aiswarya has interviewed me. With some abstract nouns in a particular sense, but in the singular only. We say our prayers 3

12. 13.

14.

It is a pity that you missed a lovely chance. He has a good sense of humour.

It is a shame that he could not answer such a simple question. Im in a hurry.