Articles: a, an and the · Year 1

Articles are the little words a, an and the that come before a noun. A and an mean one of many (any one); the means a particular one that we both know about. Choosing between a and an depends on the first sound of the next word, not the first letter.

Key facts

  • Use a before a consonant sound: a dog, a book, a university (it starts with a y sound).
  • Use an before a vowel sound: an apple, an egg, an hour (the h is silent).
  • Use a or an the first time you mention something; use the when you mention it again: I saw a cat. The cat was black.
  • Use the when there is only one: the sun, the moon, the sea.
  • Use no article for sports, meals, most names of people and cities, and things in general: She plays tennis. Cairo is busy. I like music.

Worked examples

Example 1

Choose a or an: I ate ___ orange.

Answer: an: I ate an orange.

Example 2

Choose a or an: She waited for ___ hour.

Answer: an: She waited for an hour.

Example 3

Fill the gaps: I bought ___ new bag. ___ bag is blue.

Answer: I bought a new bag. The bag is blue.

Example 4

Correct the mistake: My brother plays the football every day.

Answer: My brother plays football every day.

Other years