In English, the choice between a and an depends on the sound of the next word, not its spelling. Use a before a consonant sound, as in a university, and an before a vowel sound, as in an hour, an apple, or an umbrella.
Grammar Rule
What matters is the sound, not the letter: an hour takes an because the h is silent, and a university takes a because u sounds like yoo.
Article Rules: A vs An
| Word | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a | consonant sound | a cat, a university |
| an | vowel sound | an apple, an hour, an umbrella |
Remember: listen to the starting sound of the word, not just the letter.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using the correct article, a or an. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Indefinite Articles – A vs. An
No necesitas registrarte para empezar. Al finalizar verás tu calificación de inmediato, y si quieres podrás agregar tu nombre para personalizar y descargar tu resultado.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you choose a or an based on spelling or sound?
Sound. Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound, no matter how the word is spelled.
Why does an hour use an if hour starts with a consonant letter?
Because the h in hour is silent, so the word actually starts with a vowel sound.
Why does a university use a even though university starts with a vowel letter?
Because university starts with a y sound, which is a consonant sound, not a vowel sound.
Can you use a or an before plural nouns?
No. A and an are only used before singular countable nouns, never before plural nouns.