Module No.

G2 English Q1M2

Module Title: Recognize the use of a/an + noun

Module Type: MELC

MELC: To know the usage of indefinite articles A/An.

Indefinite articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ are use before a noun or an adjective.

A noun is a word that identify people, places, and events. It can be a common or proper
noun as learned in the previous lesson.

An adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun.

There are rules in using the indefinite articles.

A. To use the indefinite articles, ‘a’ and ‘an’ are used first then followed by a noun or an
adjective in a phrase or sentence.

Examples:
1. Asia is a continent.

Map Of Asia Pacific - Buy This Stock Vector And Explore Similar Vectors At Adobe Stock. [online]
Available at: <https://clk.tradedoubler.com/click?
p=264310&a=3150670&g=22913590&url=https://stock.adobe.com/161782755> [Accessed 1 July
2020].

2. Ben is an adventurous climber.

Mountain Climber Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures. [online] Publicdomainpictures.net.
Available at: <https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?
image=290561&picture=mountain-climber> [Accessed 1 July 2020].

B. To use the indefinite articles, ‘a’ and ‘an’ are used first then followed by a noun or an
adjective that starts with a consonant or vowel.

‘a’ is used in consonants: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z

Example:
1. Philippines is a country.

Philippines Horizontal Illustration - Buy This Stock Vector And Explore Similar Vectors At Adobe
Stock. [online] Available at: <https://clk.tradedoubler.com/click?
p=264310&a=3143187&g=22913590&url=https://stock.adobe.com/237133912> [Accessed 1 July
2020].

2. A lovely house.

The House In The Field Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures. [online]
Publicdomainpictures.net. Available at: <https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?
image=34433&picture=the-house-in-the-field> [Accessed 1 July 2020].

‘an’ is used in vowels: a, e, i, o, u.

Examples:
1. I saw an elephant in the zoo.
 Elephant Sunset Painting Vintage Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures. [online]
Publicdomainpictures.net. Available at: <https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?
image=243841&picture=elephant-sunset-painting-vintage> [Accessed 1 July 2020].

2. An authentic recipe.

Board With Greek Food Kagyana Pan Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures. [online]
Publicdomainpictures.net. Available at: <https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?
image=237390&picture=board-with-greek-food-kagyana-pan> [Accessed 1 July 2020].

C. To use the indefinite articles, ‘a’ and ‘an’ are used first then followed by the first sound of
the word.

Use ‘an’ to words that start with a consonant, but the first sound is a vowel.

Examples:
1. An hour

Clock Icon Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures. [online] Publicdomainpictures.net. Available at:
<https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=71182&picture=clock-icon>
[Accessed 1 July 2020].
2. An honest student

Cartoon Business Woman Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures. [online]
Publicdomainpictures.net. Available at: <https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?
image=334992&picture=cartoon-business-woman> [Accessed 1 July 2020].

Use ‘a’ to words that start with a vowel, but the first sound is a consonant.

Examples:
1. A university

Cambridge City Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures. [online] Publicdomainpictures.net.
Available at: <https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?
image=225344&picture=cambridge-city> [Accessed 1 July 2020].

2. A unicorn

Unicorn Horse Magical Animal Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures. [online]
Publicdomainpictures.net. Available at: <https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?
image=339904&picture=unicorn-horse-magical-animal> [Accessed 1 July 2020].

Source of the Topic:

Easypacelearning.com. 2020. A - An Basic English Lesson How To Use Each. [online] Available at:
<https://www.easypacelearning.com/all-lessons/learning-english-level-1/194-a-an-english-lesson-
how-to-use-each> [Accessed 1 July 2020].
Questions:
1. When to use an indefinite article ‘a’
A. Followed by a noun or an adjective in a phrase or sentence.
B. Followed by a noun or an adjective that starts with a consonant.
C. Start with a vowel, but the first sound is a consonant.
D. All of these is correct.

Answer: D

Discussion:
All of these is correct because an indefinite article ‘a’ follows a noun or adjective that starts with either
a consonant letter or the first letter is a vowel, but the first sound is a consonant.

2. Which of the following best describes the indefinite article ‘an’?

A. Followed by a noun or an adjective in a phrase or sentence.
B. Followed by a noun or an adjective that starts with a consonant.
C. Start with a consonant, but the first sound is a vowel.
D. None of these is correct.

Answer: C

Discussion:
‘an’ is used when the word starts with a consonant, but the first sound is a vowel.

Both ‘a’ and ‘an’ follow a noun or an adjective in a phrase or sentence.

Only ‘a’ follows a noun or an adjective that starts with a consonant.

3. What indefinite article will you use for a noun ‘traveler’?

A. a
B. an
C. none of these is correct
D. all of these is correct

Answer: A

Discussion;
Traveler starts with a consonant letter and the first sound is also consonant. Thus, we must use ‘a’
before the noun.

‘an’ is only used for a noun that starts with a vowel or has a vowel sound.

4. Complete the sentence: ___ man rides __ bike.

A. a, a
B. an, a
C. an, an
D. a, an

Answer: A

Discussion:
The nouns man and bike start with a consonant and the first sound is consonant. Thus, we used the
indefinite article ‘a’
‘an’ cannot be used before the nouns man and bike because it did not start with a vowel or a vowel
sound.

5. “It is __ honor to receive the Nobel Prize Award.” What appropriate indefinite article to be used?
A. a
B. an
C. None of these is correct
D. All of these is correct

Answer: B

Discussion:
The word ‘honor’ has a first vowel sound. Thus, we must use the indefinite article ‘an’.

Using ‘a’ might be confusing since the general rule is to use ‘a’ when the letter starts with a
consonant. But the exemption to the rule when the first sound is a vowel sound.

6. What indefinite article should be provided in the sentence: I have ___ unbelievable day!
A. is
B. you
C. an
D. a

Answer: C
The word ‘unbelievable’ is an adjective to the noun ‘day’. Indefinite articles are also applicable to the
adjectives. Since the word ‘unbelievable’ starts with a vowel letter, then the answer is ‘an’.

‘is’ is a linking verb connecting the subject and the predicate.

‘you’ is a pronoun which is a substitute for a noun.
‘a’ is applicable to noun or adjectives that starts with a consonant letter or a word starts with a vowel
but the has a consonant sound.

7. Which of the following words will be using an indefinite article ‘a’?

A. hour
B. archipelago
C. absolute stand
D. plant

Answer: D
The word ‘plant’ starts with consonant letter and has consonant sound too.

The word ‘hour’ must use ‘an’ since the first sound is a vowel.
The word ‘archipelago’ is a noun and starts with a vowel letter, then it must use the indefinite article
‘an’
The word ‘absolute’ is an adjective and starts with a vowel letter, then it must use the indefinite article
‘an’.

8. Provide the indefinite articles: I saw __ tiger, __ elephant, and __ ostrich in the zoo.
A. a, a, an
B. an, an, an
C. a, an, an,
D. a, an, a

Answer: C

Discussion:
The word tiger starts with a consonant letter so it must use the indefinite article ‘a’, while the words
‘elephant’ and ‘ostrich’ start with a vowel letter so it must use the indefinite article ‘an’.

9. Provide the indefinite articles: It was ___ unique painting of ___ unicorn.
A. an, an
B. an, a
C. a, an
D. a, a

Answer: D

Discussion:
The words ‘unique’ and ‘unicorn’ starts with a vowel letter, but the first sound is a consonant letter ‘y’.
Thus, we must use an indefinite article ‘a’ in the sentence.

10. When the word starts with a vowel but have a consonant sound. What indefinite article to be
used?
A. a
B. an
C. a and an
D. None of these is correct.

Answer: A

Discussion:
‘a’ is used when the word starts with a vowel but have a consonant sound.
‘an’ is used when the word starts with a consonant but have a vowel sound.
‘a and an’ cannot be use at the same time.