Indefinite Article: a or an based on initial sound (A2)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

She is nurse at the local hospital.

Correct answer: a

"A nurse" — "n" in "nurse" is a consonant sound → use "a". The rule is based on SOUND, not spelling. Words starting with a consonant sound always take "a".

He ate apple for breakfast every morning.

Correct answer: an

"An apple" — "a" in "apple" is a vowel sound /æ/ → use "an". Words beginning with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u sounds) take "an". "A apple" is wrong because the vowel sound requires "an".

It takes hour to drive from here to the airport.

Correct answer: an

"An hour" — the "h" in "hour" is SILENT; the word begins with the vowel sound /aʊ/ → use "an". This is a common error: "a hour" looks correct by spelling but is wrong because the h is not pronounced.

We need umbrella because it looks like rain.

Correct answer: an

"An umbrella" — "u" in "umbrella" is a vowel sound /ʌ/ → use "an". "A umbrella" is a very common error; the vowel sound at the start requires "an".

He is honest man who always keeps his promises.

Correct answer: an

"An honest" — the "h" in "honest" is silent; the word begins with the vowel sound /ɒ/ → use "an". "A honest" is incorrect despite the spelling. Other silent-h words: hour, honour, heir.

She wants to become engineer when she finishes her degree.

Correct answer: an

"An engineer" — "e" in "engineer" is a vowel sound /ɛ/ → use "an". "A engineer" is a very common mistake. Always check the initial SOUND, not the letter.

They live in old farmhouse in the countryside.

Correct answer: an

"An old farmhouse" — "o" in "old" is a vowel sound /əʊ/ → use "an". The article must match the initial sound of the adjective ("old"), not the noun ("farmhouse").

My sister is university student in her second year.

Correct answer: a

"A university" — "u" in "university" is pronounced /juː/ (a consonant Y sound) → use "a". Despite starting with the letter "u", the word begins with a consonant sound, so "an university" is incorrect.

He is European citizen who has lived in three countries.

Correct answer: a

"A European" — "E" in "European" is pronounced /jʊ/ (consonant Y sound) → use "a". "An European" is a common mistake. The rule: if the word begins with a consonant SOUND, use "a" — regardless of the written vowel.

She gave interesting presentation about climate change.

Correct answer: an

"An interesting" — "i" in "interesting" is a vowel sound /ɪ/ → use "an". The article agrees with the adjective "interesting", not the noun "presentation".

It was exciting experience for the whole team.

Correct answer: an

"An exciting" — "e" in "exciting" is a vowel sound /ɪ/ → use "an". "A exciting" is incorrect; the initial vowel sound of the adjective determines the article form.

He designs uniform for the national athletics team.

Correct answer: a

"A uniform" — "u" in "uniform" is pronounced /juː/ (consonant Y sound) → use "a". Like "university" and "European", the initial sound is a consonant /j/, so "an uniform" is incorrect.

She is looking for honest second opinion on her business plan.

Correct answer: an

"An honest" — the "h" in "honest" is silent; it begins with the vowel sound /ɒ/ → use "an". The article goes before "honest" (the first word of the noun phrase), not before "second" or "opinion".

We saw unusual bird in the garden this morning.

Correct answer: an

"An unusual" — "u" in "unusual" is the vowel sound /ʌ/ → use "an". This is different from "university" (/juː/): "unusual" begins with a true vowel sound, not a consonant-Y sound.

He rents one-bedroom flat in the city centre.

Correct answer: a

"A one-bedroom" — "one" is pronounced /wʌn/ (begins with consonant W sound) → use "a". "An one-bedroom" is incorrect. Similar: a one-way street, a one-off payment. The W sound at the start requires "a".

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

She is nurse at the local hospital.

Correct answer: a

"A nurse" — "n" in "nurse" is a consonant sound → use "a". The rule is based on SOUND, not spelling. Words starting with a consonant sound always take "a".

He ate apple for breakfast every morning.

Correct answer: an

"An apple" — "a" in "apple" is a vowel sound /æ/ → use "an". Words beginning with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u sounds) take "an". "A apple" is wrong because the vowel sound requires "an".

It takes hour to drive from here to the airport.

Correct answer: an

We need umbrella because it looks like rain.

Correct answer: an

"An umbrella" — "u" in "umbrella" is a vowel sound /ʌ/ → use "an". "A umbrella" is a very common error; the vowel sound at the start requires "an".

He is honest man who always keeps his promises.

Correct answer: an

"An honest" — the "h" in "honest" is silent; the word begins with the vowel sound /ɒ/ → use "an". "A honest" is incorrect despite the spelling. Other silent-h words: hour, honour, heir.

She wants to become engineer when she finishes her degree.

Correct answer: an

"An engineer" — "e" in "engineer" is a vowel sound /ɛ/ → use "an". "A engineer" is a very common mistake. Always check the initial SOUND, not the letter.

They live in old farmhouse in the countryside.

Correct answer: an

"An old farmhouse" — "o" in "old" is a vowel sound /əʊ/ → use "an". The article must match the initial sound of the adjective ("old"), not the noun ("farmhouse").

My sister is university student in her second year.

Correct answer: a

He is European citizen who has lived in three countries.

Correct answer: a

She gave interesting presentation about climate change.

Correct answer: an

"An interesting" — "i" in "interesting" is a vowel sound /ɪ/ → use "an". The article agrees with the adjective "interesting", not the noun "presentation".

It was exciting experience for the whole team.

Correct answer: an

"An exciting" — "e" in "exciting" is a vowel sound /ɪ/ → use "an". "A exciting" is incorrect; the initial vowel sound of the adjective determines the article form.

He designs uniform for the national athletics team.

Correct answer: a

"A uniform" — "u" in "uniform" is pronounced /juː/ (consonant Y sound) → use "a". Like "university" and "European", the initial sound is a consonant /j/, so "an uniform" is incorrect.

She is looking for honest second opinion on her business plan.

Correct answer: an

We saw unusual bird in the garden this morning.

Correct answer: an

"An unusual" — "u" in "unusual" is the vowel sound /ʌ/ → use "an". This is different from "university" (/juː/): "unusual" begins with a true vowel sound, not a consonant-Y sound.

He rents one-bedroom flat in the city centre.

Correct answer: a

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.