Basic Grammar 9.

1
DETERMINERS INDEFINITE ARTICLES A / AN
USE
1. We use indefinite articles (a/an) with singular countable nouns.

When the noun begins with a consonant sound, we use a:

a table
a girl

a dog
a movie

When the noun begins with a vowel sound, we use an:

an eraser
an institute

an apple
an office

Be careful: The vowel u can have a vowel sound or a consonant sound:

an umbrella (vowel sound)
a uniform (consonant sound)
The letter h can have a consonant sound or it can be mute:
an honor (mute sound)
a hotel (consonant sound)

2. We use a /an to talk about someone or something for the first time.
Theres a man at the corner.
I saw a movie last night.

3. We also use indefinite articles with jobs.

Im a teacher.
Shes an engineer.

Be careful: We do not use a/an with countable plural nouns or uncountable nouns:
There are books on the desk.
I like apples.
I dont drink much water.
She doesnt have money.

B 9.1 DETERMINERS - Indefinite articles a / an

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Basic Grammar 9.1

PRACTICE: INDEFINITE ARTICLES A, AN
I. Fill in the blanks with a or an.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

.....a........book
...............old man
...............window
...............pretty girl
...............horse
...............airport

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

............organization
............university
............restaurant
............umbrella
............accident
............beach

13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

..........question
..........institution
..........hamburger
..........hour
..........economic problem
..........nice evening

II. What are these things? Choose your answer from the list and write a
sentence.
river planet

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

a duck?
the Nile?
math?
soccer?
a tulip?

season fruit

It...s a bird...
It....................
It....................
It....................
It....................

flower subject

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

instrument

Spring?
an onion?
Mars?
a flute?
a peach?

sport

vegetable bird

It....................
It....................
It....................
It....................
It....................

III. Fill in the blanks with a, an or (no article).

1. Theres......a........boy at the door. Hes.....an......Italian student.
2. ...............dogs dont usually like ................cats.
3. I want .............pear, ..........apple, and ..............banana, please.
4. .............elephants are..............animals from Asia and Africa.
5. Please, give me...............pencil, ............eraser, and.............sharpener.
6. At the zoo, we saw...............lions, .................tigers, and..............alligator.
7. Do you like...............classical music or...............pop music?
8. Is that.............toy or ...............real gun?
9. For breakfast I like to have...........milk and ............piece of bread.
10. ................dolphins are................. aquatic mammals, not.................fish.

B 9.1 DETERMINERS - Indefinite articles a / an

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Basic Grammar 9.1

ANSWERS: Practice B 9.1
Exercise I:

Exercise II:

1. a
2. an
3. a
4. a
5. a
6. an
7. an
8. a
9. a
10. an
11. an
12. a
13. a
14. an
15. a
16. an
17. an
18. a

1. Its a bird.
2. Its a river.
3. Its a subject.
4. Its a sport.
5. Its a flower.
6. Its a season.
7. Its a vegetable.
8. Its a planet.
9. Its an instrument.
10. Its a fruit.

Exercise III:
1. a / an
2. - /3. a / an / a
4. - / 5. a / an / a
6. - / - / an
7. - / 8. a / a
9. - / a
10. - / - / -

B 9.1 DETERMINERS - Indefinite articles a / an

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