When do we use a and an?
We use a and an to refer to something in general.
- I want a baby.
- A child fell down the street.
- He is eating an apple.
- They passed a university.
- An hour went by.
The difference is that we use an with words that start with a vowel sound.
That means that the word does not need to start with a vowel, just with a vowel sound.
Examples of words that start with a vowel but where we use a:
- a university
- a unity
- a euro
- a unicorn
Examples of words that don't start with a vowel but do use an:
- an hour
- an honest (man)
We choose wether to use a or an by looking at the first word that follows.
For example:
That is a baby.
That is an annoying baby.
Or
Look! An animal!
Look! A beautiful animal!