A and an are called articles.
Fill in the blanks with a or an.
1. I bought ______ umbrella last week.
2. Do you know how to use ______ computer?
3. Would you like ______ orange?
4. I took ______ taxi to go to Lajpat Nagar.
5. Bela Sood is ______ engineer.
6. Sujata saw ______ accident on the road.
Answer (1)
Articles 'a' and 'an' are used before nouns and play an important role in English grammar. They help indicate whether we are referring to something specific or something in general. The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound that begins the word directly following the article.
Use 'an' before a vowel sound. Examples: an apple, an umbrella, an egg (Note that 'an' is used before vowel sounds, not just vowels. Therefore, you might see 'an hour' since 'hour' begins with a vowel sound).
Use 'a' before a consonant sound. Examples: a book, a car, a dog
Here are the answers to the blanks:
I bought an umbrella last week.
'Umbrella' begins with a vowel sound, so we use 'an'.
Do you know how to use a computer?
'Computer' begins with a consonant sound, so we use 'a'.
Would you like an orange?
'Orange' begins with a vowel sound, so we use 'an'.
I took a taxi to go to Lajpat Nagar.
'Taxi' begins with a consonant sound, so we use 'a'.
Bela Sood is an engineer.
'Engineer' begins with a vowel sound, so we use 'an'.
Sujata saw an accident on the road.
'Accident' begins with a vowel sound, so we use 'an'.
These rules help make your speech and writing smooth and easier to understand. Remember, it's the sound that matters when deciding between 'a' and 'an', not necessarily the first letter of the word that follows.
