Indefinite article: A/an

Did u know?

A time capsule is a container filled with typical objects from a particular time and in most cases buried underground for safekeeping.

The idea behind this, of course, is that future generations will be able to learn about life in the past when they open up the capsule and study the objects.




As we have explained in the previous post, English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns; a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns.

A and an is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group. example:
- I would like a dog.
Here, we're not talking about a specific dog. We're talking about any dog.
I still haven't chosen one in particular.

A and an signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group.
example:
- My brother really wants a cat. This also refers to any cat.

- When I was at the park, I saw a squirrel. Here, we're talking about a single, non-specific animal, in this case a squirrel. There are certainly several squirrels in the park, but there's only one we're talking about here.

NOTE:
using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word.

• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a girl; a truck; a bike; a park; a cat
• an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used); also a university
  
• an + nouns starting with silent "h": an hour
• a + nouns starting with a pronounced "h": a horse

If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article:

• a broken ankle
• an unusual job
• a European country

ALSO
in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a group:

• I am a policeman. (I am a member of a large group known as police.)
• Matt is an Irishman. (Matt is a member of the people known as English.)
• Dave is a baseball player. (Dave is a member of the group of people known as Buddhists.)