INDEFINITE ARTICLE
Definition: The indefinite article is just the opposite of the definite article. In English, the indefinite articles are "a, an, some, any." They are "indefinite" because they do not refer to a particular thing as "the" does, but simply refer to an object or person in a non-specific way, that is, we do not specify exactly to which person or object we are referring to.
For example:
- A white house on a green hill.
- A cat ate the sardine
* We are not specifying which cat ate the sardine, it could have been any cat.
Notes:
It is normal to use the indefinite article when we mention someone or something for the first time in our conversation or text.
For example:
- I've finally got a good job.
- We bought a new computer and it was cheap.
- Would you like a drink?
"A" and "an" are also used to refer to a particular member of a group or class.
For example:
- She is an English teacher.
- He wants to be a dancer.
- John is an Englishman.
- Sherlock Holmes was playing a violin when the visitor arrived.
- I was born on a Thursday.
We also use the indefinite article to talk about price / weight, speed.
For example:
- This car does 240 km an hour.
- It is 10 euros a kilo.
Certain numbers in English require the presence of an indefinite article.
For example:
- A hundred, a thousand, a million, etc...
With singular nouns, after the words "what" and "such"
For example:
- What a day!
- What a shame!
- She's such a beautiful girl.
Meaning "one", referring to a single object or person
For example:
- I'd like an orange and two lemons please.
- The burglar took a diamond necklace and a valuable painting.
The choice between "a" and "an"
Depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article:
Use "a" with nouns starting with a consonant. On the other hand, we use "an" before nouns starting with a vowel.
For example:
- an umbrella
- a table
- an elephant
- a book
NOTE: If the next word begins with a consonant sound when we say it then we use a. If the next word begins with a vowel sound when we say it then we use an.
For example:
- We say "university" with a "y" sound at the beginning as though it were spelt "youniversity".
=> a university
- We say "hour" with a silent h as though it were spelt "our".
=> an hour
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