Meaning & use
an
Last updated
Meanings
determiner
The form of the indefinite article used before a word that starts with a vowel sound.
Grammar: Choose a by sound, not spelling: an hour, an honest answer, but a university, a European country.
Patterns
- an + singular countable noun
- an + adjective + noun
She ate an apple and drank a glass of water.
He is an honest man.
We waited an hour for the bus.
determiner
One, when mentioning a single person or thing for the first time.
Grammar: Used with singular countable nouns; the plural or uncountable equivalent often has no article.
Patterns
- an + job title
- an + singular noun
She works as an engineer.
I need an umbrella.
There was an old man sitting on the bench.
determiner
Used before a singular noun to mean any one of that kind, not a particular one.
Grammar: Often used in definitions and general statements: 'An elephant is a large animal.'
Patterns
- an + singular noun (as a type)
An owl hunts at night.
A doctor should listen carefully; an engineer should check the numbers.
An adult ticket costs more than a child's ticket.
Common combinations
- an hour
- The journey takes an hour by train.
- an honest mistake
- It was an honest mistake, so no one was blamed.
- an MBA
- She has an MBA from a top school.
- an umbrella
- Take an umbrella; it looks like rain.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: an or a? an or and?
an vs a
An and an are the same article; the choice depends on the following sound. Say an hour (vowel sound) but a house (consonant sound).
an vs and
And is a conjunction joining words or clauses; an is an article before a singular noun.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
University begins with the consonant sound /j/, so use a. An is used before vowel sounds, as in an hour or an honest answer; the other options use the wrong form or the wrong noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “an”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.