Common errors-How to use articles 'a' and 'an' (part-1)

Vowels:- a,e,i,o,u
Consonants:-All other alphabets excluding vowels

Usage of An:-
1. Before words beginning with vowel sounds 
Example:-
-an apple
-an egg
-an owl

2. Before words beginning with F,H,L,M,N,R,S,X
These letters are not vowels but begin with vowel sound
Example:-
-an M.L.A.
-an R.F.A.
-an N.C.C.
-an officer
-an F.I.R.
-an X-ray
-an H.E. school
-an S.P.

3. Before words beginning with silent 'h'
Example:-
-an honourable man (pronounced as onourable)
-an hour (pronounced as our)
-an honest man (pronounced as onest)


Usage of A:-
1. (i) In the sense of one
Example:-
-He couldn't speak a word to save himself
(ii) With 'one'('one' begins with sound of 'w')
Example:-
- a one rupee note ( where 'one' is pronounced as won)

2. Before words beginning with consonant value 
Example:-
- a boy
- a dog
- a cat

3. With vowel letters having consonant value
Example:-
- a university ( pronounced as yuniversity)
- a unit ( pronounced as yunit)

4. With measurable units and rate(per), amount
Example:-
- He saves rupees six hundred a month
- He sells rice ten rupees a kilo
- Give me a metre length of the cloth

5. In exclamatory expressions before singular countable nouns
Example:-
- What a pretty girl!
- How sunny a day !

6. When two subjects or articles are thought of as a single unit
Example:-
- He was ready with a cup and saucer
- A cigarette is made of a paper and tobacco

7. With certain expressions of quantity
Example:-
- a lot of
- a dozen
- a great deal of
- a couple

8. With a person's name to indicate that the person is perhaps unknown to the addressed
Example:-
- A Mr. Roy is at the door

9. With a special meal (to celebrate something or in someone's honour)
Example:-
- I called Ram to a dinner to celebrate my success

10. To make a common noun of a proper noun
Proper noun:- name of person,place,monuments etc
Common noun:- class of proper noun like car,man etc
Example:-
-The man is a second Newton


Stay tuned for part -2
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