Unit 65 · A and the
a/an...
Study
He's got a camera.
She's waiting for a taxi.
It's a beautiful day.
a ... = one thing or person:
Rachel works in a bank. (not in bank)
Can I ask a question? (not ask question)
I don't have a job at the moment.
There's a woman at the bus stop.
an (not a) before a/e/i/o/u:
Do you want an apple or a banana?
I'm going to buy a hat and an umbrella.
There was an interesting programme on TV last night.
also an hour (h is not pronounced: an our)
but a university (pronounced yuniversity)
a European country (pronounced yuropean)
another (= an + other) is one word:
Can I have another cup of coffee?
We use a/an ... when we say what a thing or a person is. For example:
The sun is a star.
Football is a game.
Dallas is a city in Texas.
A mouse is an animal. It's a small animal.
Joe is a very nice person.
We use a/an ... for jobs etc.:
a: What's your job?
b: I'm a dentist. (not I'm dentist)
'What does Mark do?' 'He's an engineer.'
Would you like to be a teacher?
Beethoven was a composer.
Picasso was a famous painter.
Are you a student?
Exercises (4)
Write a or an.
- 1old bookexample
- 2window
- 3horse
- 4airport
- 5new airport
- 6organisation
- 7university
- 8hour
- 9economic problem
What are these things? Choose from the box.
- 1A duck is a .example
- 2A carrot is a .
- 3Tennis is a .
- 4A hammer is a .
- 5Everest is a .
- 6Saturn is a .
- 7A banana is a .
- 8The Amazon is a .
- 9A rose is a .
- 10A trumpet is a .
What are their jobs? Choose from the list and complete the sentences.
- 1She's a .example
- 2He's a .
- 3She's an .
- 4He's a .
- 5He's an .
- 6She's a .
- 7She's a .
- 8And you? I'm .
Write sentences. Choose from the two boxes. Use a/an where necessary.
- 1I want to ask youI want to ask you a .example
- 2Tom never wearsTom never wears a .
- 3I can't rideI can't ride a .
- 4My brother isMy brother is an .
- 5Rebecca works inRebecca works in a .
- 6Jane wants to learnJane wants to learn a .
- 7Mike lives inMike lives in an .
- 8This evening I'm going toThis evening I'm going to a .