Grammar › Articles › A/An: the indefinite article
A/An: the indefinite article
Use a/an with a singular countable noun. Main uses:
- One of many, or first mention — I need a pen; A man called earlier.
- Jobs and roles — He's a teacher; She works as an engineer.
- Meaning 'one' — a kilo, a week, an hour.
Never use a/an with plurals or uncountables: not 'a shoes', not 'an advice'. Choose a or an by sound.
How to use a/an
Use a/an with a singular countable noun. It means the thing is not specific — one of many, or new to the listener.
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| First mention | I read a book about Rome. |
| One of many | Can I have a chair? |
| Jobs and roles | She’s an engineer. |
| Meaning ‘one’ | Wait a minute. |
| Exclamations | What a view! |
Choose a or an by the following sound (a dog, an apple).
When to use it
1. First time you mention something
- A dog ran past. (Later: The dog was huge.)
2. Jobs and roles
- My sister is a lawyer and my brother is an actor.
3. Common expressions with ‘one’
- It costs a euro. We meet once a week.
⚠️ Don’t use a/an with plural or uncountable nouns:
a shoes→ shoes / a pair of shoes;an information→ information / a piece of information.
Common mistakes
1. Dropping the article before a job. She is teacher → She is a teacher.
2. Using a/an with uncountables. Can I give you an advice? → Can I give you some advice?
3. Using a/an with plurals. I bought a trousers → I bought some trousers. Pro tip: a/an = one countable thing; for plurals or uncountables, use ‘some’ or no article.
✏️ Practice: A/An: the indefinite article
1. My mother is ___ doctor.
2. I need ___ new phone; mine is broken.
3. Can you give me ___ information about the course?
4. We go to the gym twice ___ week.
5. Which is correct?
6. What ___ beautiful day!
7. He works as ___ engineer.
8. Correct this: 'She gave me an advice.'
9. There's ___ message for you on the desk.
10. When do you use a/an?
Frequently asked questions
When do I use a/an?
With a singular countable noun that is one of many or new to the conversation: I bought a book; A woman asked for you.
Why do we say 'She's a doctor'?
English uses a/an before jobs and roles: He's an architect; She's a student. Don't drop the article.
Can I use a/an with plural or uncountable nouns?
No. Say 'books' or 'some books' (not 'a books'), and 'advice' or 'some advice' (not 'an advice').
What's the difference between a/an and the?
a/an introduces something new or non-specific; 'the' points to something specific the listener already knows.
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “A/An: the indefinite article”:
- Can use a/an with singular countable nouns for first mention and 'one of many' (CEFR A2).
- Can use a/an before jobs and in common expressions.
- Can avoid a/an with plural and uncountable nouns.
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