When do you use a and when do you us an in a sentence?

Answer 1

You use a when in like
A monkey

or an when in like
An octopus

An is usually used when the word following it starts with a vowel.

Answer 2

Basically as has already been stated the indefinite articles "a" and "an" are used "a" before a consonant and "an" before a vowel.

There are exceptions.

The Rules -
Use a if the next word begins with a consonant SOUND.
This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.

a box
a cat
a university (university begins with a consonant sound)
a unicorn (unicorn begins with a consonant sound)
a European trip (European begins with a consonant sound)
a hotel (hotel begins with a consonant sound)

WHEN TO USE -AN-
Use AN if the next word begins with a vowel SOUND.
This is a sound rule, NOT a spelling rule.

an atom
an entrance
an ice cream cone
an uncle (uncle begins with a vowel sound)
an hour (the h is silent, thus a vowel sound)
an x-ray

More Rules -
- a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
- an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan
- 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); a university; a unicycle

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 egg
- an unusual problem
- a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)

Remember, too, that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a group:

- I am a teacher. (I am a member of a large group known as teachers.)
- Brian is an Irishman. (Brian is a member of the people known as Irish.)
- Seiko is a practicing Buddhist. (Seiko is a member of the group of people known as Buddhists.)

Answer 3

You use 'an' before any word that starts with a vowel. For instance, "I'd like an egg and an orange for breakfast."
You use 'a' for a consonant. For example, "I'd like a sausage and a coffee for breakfast."

One more thing that many people don't know. If you can remember this, you'll know more than most people. Any time you have a spoken acronym, a spoken letter, or anything like that, you use 'an' if the acronym or letter SOUNDS like the first letter would be a vowel. For instance. "The word house has an H in it. The word build has a B in it." I put an 'an' before 'H' because the phonetic pronunciation of H would start with an 'A', like ACHE. The 'B' is phonetically spelled 'BEE', with a consonant at the beginning. Make sense?

Answer 4

In American English "a" is used in front of all consonants and "an" in front of all vowels. However in correct English "an" is also used in front of the letter H when the sound is made with an exhaling breath. An hotel but a holiday. The clue to knowing how to say the sounds is simple. If the phrase sounds awkward it is wrong.

Answer 5

Use 'an' before a vowel and 'a' before a consonant, except for *some* words beginning with 'h'.

For example.

It was an eventful afternoon.
It was a happy day.
It was an historic occasion.

Not sure why it is only some words beginning with 'h', just one of the many quirks of the English written word!

Answer 6

A before a word starting with a consonant; An before a word starting with a vowel or a vowel sound (ie. an hour)

Answer 7

You use a in a sentence when dealing with a noun starting in a consonant SOUND. You use an when your noun begins with a vowel SOUND. You have to watch for silent consonants.

Answer 8

I have looked at all these crazy answers and I am in total disbelief at some of them. Since when was Hotel pronounced Otel. The only time that I can think of that "an" is used before an H is in an Hour where the H is silent. As to all the others Please Learn Diction.

Answer 9

a and an are used in articulating a subject, "a" should be used before a word starting with a consonant and "an" for words starting with a vowel.

"a" and "an" before a subject would mean that the subject is singular form.

i.e.

"an" apple
"a" book

Answer 10

You use an when the word following it begins with a vowel. EX: An apple, an elephant.
You use a when the word following it begins with a consenant. EX: A lake, a phone.