162

the indefinite and definite article

that

the indefinite and definite article

163

The indefinite article

The indefinite article isa or an.The form an is used before a word

to express a quantity, unless you wish to emphasize the number, when one must be used. The equivalent for plural nouns is some ol no determiner at all. See o. 16o.
I wont o needle and a thimble. Would you like a glass of wine? There is only one glass of wine lefr. in the bottle. Guy has bought a skoteboard. We've gotthree pairs of rollerblades and one skateboard.

starts with a vowel sound.

a

girl

a cat

an eight-year-old girl

an engineer

The indefinite article is used with singular countable nouns:

orathing thatyou are mentioning forthefirst time in a conversation or a piece of writing.

to referto
a person

It is the sound, not the spelling, that decides where an is used. For example, although unique begins with a vowel, the sound at the beginning resembles a y- sound.
an

A man was seen driving away in a block car.

to refer to a person or alrout.

I

thing which you do not want to be specific

idiot unicorn

an awful mistake
a unique experience

stopped off at o shop to buy a newspoper. You go post a petrol station on the left, and then you'll see our
house on the

right.

to refer to a person or a thing which you cannot be more specific about because there is not enough information.
A man called to see Vou this afternoon. Therewas a telephone call for you a minute ago. in definitions. An
o

Veryformal or old-fashioned speakers also use the on form with some words beginning with an h- that is not silent, especially
historical and hotel.
I

They

waited an hour. joined a historical society.

Theyjoinedanhistoricalsociety. (otd-fashionedEngtish)
ei

ctop u s i s a sea creatu re with

ght tentl

cl

es.

They were stoying ot a hotel.

Theywerestayingatanhotel.

(old-fashionedEngtish)

when you refer to a person's profession.

Herfather is a dentist and her mother is a teocher.