When to Say a or an

The indefinite article is a ,; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; or an. But how do we know when to say a and when to say
an?

The rule is really very simple. It depends on the SOUND at the start of the following word. (It does
not depend on the way we WRITE the following word, it depends on the way we SAY it.)

 a + consonant SOUND

If the following word starts with a consonant SOUND, then we say

a cat

a game of golf

a human emotion

a Peruvian

a very nice lady

an + vowel SOUND

If the following word starts with a vowel SOUND, then we say an:

an apple

an easy job

an interesting film

an old man

an umbrella

The Importance of SOUND

Vowel LETTER but consonant SOUND

a European country ------------------------------------------------------------------- you-ro-pe-an

a one-day conference ------------------------------------------------------------------- won-day

a university --------------------------------------------------------------------- you-ni-ver-si-ty