Learn to use "a" and "an" correctly

Where should you use ‘a’?

1. Before all singular common nouns beginning with a consonant:

Example:

i) A girl bakes a cake.
ii) A black and a white dog were the pets of the house.

2. If a word begins with a vowel but gives the sound of a consonant

Example:

i) It was a one-eyed dog.
ii) It is a useful activity.

Where should you use “an”?

1. Before all singular common nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u):

Example:

i) He is an accomplished artist.
ii) He is an old friend.

2. If a word starts with a consonant but gives the sound of a vowel, 'an' should be used before it.

Example:

i) He is an honourable man.
ii) It is an honour to have you here.
iii) He is an L.L.B.
iv) He is an M.B.A.

Sr.No.IncorrectCorrect
1. He is a M.A.He is an M.A.
2. He is a LL.B.He is an LL.B.
3. He is a M.P.He is an M.P.
4. Mridul is a M.B.B.S.Mridul is an M.B.B.S.
5. She is a historian.She is an historian.
6. She is a hostler.She is an hostler.
7. My father is a honest man.My father is an honest man.
8. He is a heir to their ancestral property.He is an heir to their ancestral property.
9. A hour consists of sixty minutes.An hour consists of sixty minutes.
10. Please give me an one-rupee note.Please give me a one-rupee note.
11. He is an European by birth.He is a European by birth.
12. It is an useful thing.It is a useful thing.
13. He is a S.D.OHe is an S.D.O
14. An university is a place to learn.A university is a place to learn.
15. What kind of a man is heWhat kind of man is he?
16. This is a news to me.This is news to me.