The rule, as people use it

Use "a" or "an" when you mention one thing for the first time, or when it's any one of many: "I saw a dog." Use "the" when you and the listener both know which one you mean: "The dog was huge." That shared knowledge is the whole idea. You say "the moon" and "the kitchen" because there's only one in the picture.

"An" goes before a vowel sound, not a vowel letter. So it's an apple and an hour, because "hour" starts with a vowel sound, but a university, because "university" starts with a "y" sound. Trust your ear here.

The mistake learners make most is leaving the article out: "I have car" or "She's teacher". English wants a word before a single count noun, so say "a car", "a teacher". With plurals and non-count nouns talked about in general, you leave it out: "Dogs are loyal." "I love music."

Examples

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Fill the gap

Type the missing words, then check. The full sentence plays when you get it.

  1. 1

    I'm waiting for (a / an) taxi.

  2. 2

    It's (a / an) old building.

  3. 3

    She works as (a / an) engineer in Osaka.

  4. 4

    Can you turn off (a / the) lights in the kitchen?

  5. 5

    I bought a shirt and a hat. (A / The) shirt was on sale.

  6. 6

    My brother is (a / the) doctor.

  7. 7

    We waited for (a / an) hour.

  8. 8

    Is there (a / the) pharmacy near here?

Practice · 3 min

Describe the street where you live in six sentences, out loud. Introduce each place with "a" or "an", then talk about it again with "the": "There's a café on the corner. The café opens at seven." Write the six sentences down and circle every article. Check that each "an" comes before a vowel sound.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.