Last reviewed 30 Sept 2026 · 8 min read
What is an article?
A, an and the are the articles. They are small words that come before a noun and show whether we mean any one (indefinite) or a particular one (definite). English has two indefinite articles, a and an, one definite article, the, and the zero article — the absence of an article, which is just as important.
A and an — the indefinite article
The sound rule
Use a before a word that begins with a consonant sound and an before a word that begins with a vowel sound. It is the sound, not the spelling, that matters.
| Uses a (consonant sound) | Uses an (vowel sound) |
|---|---|
| a university (sounds "yoo") | an umbrella |
| a unit, a use, a union | an honest man, an hour, an heir |
| a one-rupee note (sounds "wun") | an onion |
| a European, a eulogy | an engineer |
| a house, a hero | an MLA (sounds "em"), an SDO, an X-ray, an F-grade, an NCC cadet |
- Silent h: hour, honest, honour, heir, honorarium → an.
- Letters pronounced with a vowel sound when spoken as letters: A, E, F, H, I, L, M, N, O, R, S, X → an (an MP, an SI, an LLB).
- Vowel letters with a "y" or "w" sound at the start: university, useful, European, one, once → a.
When to use a/an
- With a singular countable noun mentioned for the first time or in a general sense: I saw a bridge. (Then: The bridge was old.)
- To mean one: a hundred, a dozen, a thousand, a quarter.
- To mean any or each in a general statement: A dog is a faithful animal.
- In the sense of per: twice a day, five rupees a kilo.
- With a profession or class: He is an engineer. She became a doctor.
- In certain fixed expressions: a few, a little, a lot of, a great many, as a rule, in a hurry, at a loss, to make a noise, to take a fancy to, to have a cold, to be in a position to, once upon a time, what a pity, such a man, many a man (many a + singular noun + singular verb).
When NOT to use a/an
- Before plural nouns (bridges) or uncountable nouns (water, advice, information, furniture, luggage). ✗ a furniture, ✗ an advice.
- After such in the pattern such + plural: such things. But such a thing.
- After what when the noun is plural: What beautiful buildings! but What a beautiful building!
- Before most/half in certain patterns: half an hour or an hour and a half (not a half hour in careful usage); quite a big room, rather a difficult task.
After so, as, too, how, the article comes after the adjective: so large a hall, as good a result, too heavy a load, how long a bridge. After quite, rather, such, what, many, half, the article comes before the adjective/noun: quite a good result, such a view.