a / ə ; strong eɪ / Frequency: ●●●
S1
W1
( also an ) indefinite article , determiner
top_one_thousand
top_two_thousand
top_three_thousand
spoken
written
1 used to show that you are talking about someone or something that has not been mentioned before, or that your listener does not know about : We have a problem. | There was a hole in the fence. | Suddenly they heard a loud bang. ➔ the 1 2 used to show that you are referring to a general type of person or thing and not a specific person or thing : Would you like a sandwich? | I want to train to be an engineer. | He’s a really nice man. | Take a look at this. | It needs a good clean. 3 used before someone’s family name to show that they belong to that family : One of his daughters had married a Rothschild. 4 one : a thousand pounds | a dozen eggs | You’ll have to wait an hour or two. 5 used in some phrases that say how much of something there is : There were a lot of people at the party. | A few weeks from now I’ll be in Venice. | You have caused a great deal of trouble. 6 used to mean ‘each’ when stating prices, rates, or speeds : I get paid once a month. | The eggs cost $2 a dozen. 7 used before singular nouns to mean all things of a particular type : A square has four sides (=all squares have four sides) . | A child needs love and affection. 8 used once before two nouns that are mentioned together very often : I’ll fetch you a cup and saucer. | Does everyone have a knife and fork? 9 used before the -ing forms of verbs when they are used as nouns referring to an action, event, or sound : There was a beating of wings overhead. | Bernice became aware of a humming that seemed to come from all around her. 10 used before nouns that are usually uncountable when other information about the quality, feeling etc is added by an adjective, phrase, or clause : Candidates must have a good knowledge of chemistry. 11 used before the name of a substance, food etc to refer to a particular type of it : Use a good cheese to make the sauce. | plants that grow well in a moist soil 12 used before the name of a drink to refer to a cup or glass of that drink : Can I get you a coffee? | Renwick went to the bar and ordered a beer. 13 used before the name of a famous artist to refer to a painting by that artist : an early Rembrandt 14 used before a name to mean someone or something that has the same qualities as that person or thing : She was hailed as a new Marilyn Monroe. 15 used before someone’s name when you do not know who they are : There is a Mr Tom Wilkins on the phone. 16 used before the names of days, months, seasons, and events in the year to refer to a particular one : We arrived in England on a cold wet Sunday in 1963. | I can’t remember a Christmas like it. USAGE: A, an •Before a word beginning with a vowel sound, use an: an elephant | an umbrella | an obvious mistake •Use an before an 'h' that is not pronounced: an hour later | an honest explanation •Use a before a 'u' that is pronounced like 'you': a university | a unique opportunity •Use an before an abbreviation that is pronounced with a vowel sound at the start: an SOS call | an MP3 file