"a" vs "an"
Both words mean "one". Use "a" before a consonant sound. Use "an" before a vowel sound.
record_voice_over Vowel Sounds
match_case Consonant Sounds
volume_off The Tricky "H"
school The Tricky "U"
Do not look at the first letter. Listen to the first sound!
Wrong! The "h" is silent, so it sounds like "our". ❌
Correct! It starts with a vowel sound. check_circle
Quick Check bolt
Mission my_location
Mission my_location
Mission my_location
Video Lesson
Listen Closely headphones
Watch Teacher Sopheak explain today's topic. Listen closely to how "a" and "an" are pronounced naturally!
Ask a Question help_center
Recent Questions
Hi Sovan! That is a great question. It is "a university". Even though 'u' is a vowel letter, it makes a "y" sound (like 'you'). Remember, the rule is about the SOUND! ✨
Why do we even have "an"? Why not just use "a" for everything?
Try saying "a apple" very fast. It is hard to say because the two vowel sounds crash together! We use "an" to make a smooth bridge between the words. It just makes speaking easier! 🗣️
Do we use "a" or "an" for plural words like "apples"?
No! Remember, "a" and "an" both mean "ONE". So we only use them for singular things. For plurals, we just say "apples" or "some apples". nutrition
Teacher, is it 'a university' or 'an university'?