A/an/the

form and use

a and an are indefinite articles. In English, you use a or an depending on whether the word that follows it, in terms of pronunciation, begins with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or a consonant (all other letters).

  • Use a when the following word starts with a consonant sound: a car, a dog, a unit
  • Use an when the following word starts with a vowel sound: an apple, an hour, an honest person

Although ‘unit’ starts with the vowel ‘u’, you hear the consonant ‘j’, so a is used.
Although ‘hour’ and ‘honest’ start with the consonant ‘h’, you hear the vowel ‘o’, so an is used.

exercises

a and an

a/an, the and no article

the and no definite article (geographical terms and names)

  • exercise 1: choose the or no article (geographical terms)
  • exercise 2: choose the or no article (geographical terms)
  • exercise 3: exercise about the use of the (geographical terms)
  • exercise 4: fill in  the or no article (geographical terms)
  • exercise 5: fill in  the or no article (geographical terms)
  • exercise 6: fill in  the or no article (geographical terms)
  • exercise 7: choose the or no article (geographical terms and names)
  • exercise 8: choose the or no article (geographical terms and names)

the and no definite article (general ⇔ specific)

the and no definite article (miscellaneous)