Tip 14: When to Use "a" and "an"

Kids at P1 are taught to use "an" instead of "a" when they see the word following it starts with "a", "e"," i", "o", or "u". That is, "an apple", "an elephant", "an ice-cream", "an orange", "an umbrella".

As they proceed to the next level, they have to realise that this rule is all about the vowel sounds of a,e,i,o,u, and not about the vowel letters. This explains why for words which start with an "i" vowel sound -- unicorn, university, usual, U-turn, united team, useful book are preceded by an "a" and not "an". Similarly, for words that start with an "a" vowel sound, like "hour", it is preceded by "an" and not "a". And "history" which starts with a non-vowel sound, follows after "a" and not "an".