Use A or An Correctly

This is a banana.

 

 

This is an apple.

 

 

Can you spot a difference in the words that come before apple and banana?

 

When a noun begins with a consonant, we use a.  When a noun begins with a vowel, we use an.

Let's remind ourselves of which letters are vowels and consonants.

 

Consonants:

b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z

 

Vowels:

a, e, i, o, u

 

There are a few exceptions to this rule.

For example, we use an when the next word begins with a vowel sound, even if the first letter is a consonant.  Likewise, we use a if the next word begins with a consonant sound, even if the first letter is a vowel.

 

Read these two phrases aloud and think about which sounds right.

an hour or a hour

a unicorn or an unicorn

 

We always say and write an hour as the word sounds like 'our'.

We use a unicorn as the word sounds like 'yoonicorn'.

 

 

Ready to practise?  Let's go!