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    Learn Courses Basic level The articles The indefinite article

The Articles - Lesson 2.2

The Indefinite Article

(El artículo indeterminado)


"A car", "an apple". Both the indefinite articles, "a" and "an", mean the same thing and we use them to refer to something indefinite or unknown to the speaker . They are used only with a singular noun. Continue the lesson below.

Both the indefinite articles, “a” and “an”, mean the same thing and are used to indicate something or someone in singular. We can never use these articles when we are referencing more than one thing.

Grammatical Rules

1. “A” is used with nouns that begin with a consonant.

Examples:

  a book
  a pen
  a chair
  a girl

2. We add “-n” to the article for nouns that begin with a vowel.

Examples:

  an animal
  an ice cream
  an example
  an orange
  an umbrella

Exceptions:

We use “a” before words that begin with either “u” or “eu” when these are pronounced as “yu”.

Examples:

  a university
  a euro

“An” is used with words that begin with “h”, but only when it is not pronounced.

Examples:

  an hour
  a hospital

Uses Of The Indefinite Article

1. We use the indefinite article when we are speaking of something in general.

Examples:

  He has a computer.
  We work in a school.
  I want an orange.

2. We can also use “a” or “an” in place of “one” (singular).

Examples:

  I want an apple and two oranges.
  There are a hundred students in the school.

3. We use “a” or “an” when we make reference to something for the first time; the next reference we make, we use the definite article.

Example:

  I live in an apartment. The apartment is big.

4. With professions, offices and political affiliations, we use the indefinite article.

Examples:

  Maria is a doctor.
  Juan is an architect.
  I am a democrat.
Previous lesson The Definite Article
The Indefinite Article Listen to Lesson
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