The Indefinite Article A/AN

We choose A or AN because of pronunciation, not because of how we write the

words.
A + consonant
AN + vowel
Is used to refer to non-specific nouns: Lets read a book! ( any book)

With singular countable nouns after the verb TO BE to say what

someone/something is

Hes a pilot.

With the verb HAVE (GOT ) : Mary has (got) a car.

In certain expressions when we want to show how often we do
something:

She goes shopping twice a month.

A/AN is used with singular countable nouns to talk about indefinite
things.
Theres a man standing at the door.
We can use SOME in the affirmative with plural countable nouns or
uncountable nouns and ANY in questions and negations.
There are some people at the bus stop.
Give me some milk please.
Are there any cups in the cupboard ?
There isnt any sugar left.

A/An can also be used meaning per or with money : a/one pound,
fractions: a/one quarter, weight/measures: a/one metre, whole
numbers: a/one thousand, price/weight: 2 $ a kilo, frequency/time:
three times a week, distance/fuel: 60 miles a gallon, distance/speed:
60 km an hour and illnesses: a fever, a cold
General descriptions : A mechanic is a person who fixes cars.
Jobs : Jake is an engineer.

BUT!!! When we refer to somebody who changed his job, we dont use
the indefinite article after the verb TO TURN:
Anne used to teach literature, but she has turned to acting.

Exclamations after SUCH and WHAT: What a wonderful day !

He was such a dear fellow that everybody appreciated him.

Before a noun in the singular preceded by AS when we refer to a

job or to a characterization:

Joe worked as a driver for this company.

Shall I take your remark as a compliment?

Before a noun in the singular which is refering to the origin of

some people or their belonging to a religion or a political partid:

My first teacher was an American.

Margaret is a christian.
My sisters husband is a Liberal.

Before a name to show that the respective person is from a said

family or that a piece of art is of a said artist:

Mrs. Wallace was a Dobson before she got married.

This must be a Renoir.

Before MR/MRS./MISS/MZ + last name/family name, refering to an

unknown person to the speaker:

A Mr. Johnson want you on the phone.

Before indefinite adjectives LITTLE and FEW

LITTLE = prea putin, insufficient : There is little hope to find my

purse.
A LITTLE = putin, dar sufficient : There is a little money left, just to
buy some bread.

FEW = putini/putine : There are few people in the streets by night.

ONE/ONES

A FEW = cativa/cateva: Ive bought a few books this month.

We use ONE in the singular and ONES in the plural to avoid repeating
the noun when it is clear what we mean.
My new car is much faster than my old one. ( = my own car)

A/AN/ONE

We use A/AN to refer to an unspecified thing. It means any one:

She bought a blouse. ( We are not talking about a specific blouse)

We use ONE when we are counting, to put emphasis on number:

She bought one blouse.

A/AN + adjective + ONE : Im looking for a flat. I want a big one.

We use ONE/ONE OF... when we mean one person/thing out of

many. It usually contrasts with other: One book was about history, but
the others were about geography.

One of my friends is a vet.

We use A/AN instead of ONE before a period of time: It took me an

hour to reach your place.
We use A/An or ONE with no difference in meaning when counting
or measuring time, distance, weight:

He paid a/one hundred pounds for the ring.

We need a/one kilo of potatoes.
Sandra will be away for a/one year.

A/AN is not used:

With uncountable nouns or plural countable nouns. We use SOME

instead of A/AN:

We need some flour and some sugar.

Before an adjective if it is not followed by a noun. However, if the

adjective is followed by a noun, we use A if the adjective begins
with a consonant sound and AN if the adjective begins with a
vowel sound:

Its a house. ( no adjective) Its big. (adjective not followed by a noun so we dont
use A) Its a big house. ( adjective followed by a noun so we use A )
This is Johns car. Its new. ( - A adj noun ) Its also an expensive car. ( + A adj +
noun )

When we refer to a person who is chosen in a public function, the

noun is not preceded by A/AN:

We dont know yet the person who has been elected as president.

I.
Put A or AN:
1) ...... cake
2) ....... shoe
3) ....... apple
4) ..... book
5) .....cat
6) ....... watch
7) ..... alligator
8) ...... ice cream
9) ..... egg
10)
..... train
11)
...... bird
12)
..... orange
13)
.... friend

14)
15)
16)
17)
18)

.... insect
..... envelope
..... snowman
..... alarm clock
.... hour

II.
Add the adjectives and make the necessary changes:
1) An umbrella ( new) -> a new umbrella
2) An eye (blue) ->
3) A car ( yellow) ->
4) An address (long) ->
5) A man ( old) ->
6) A book ( interesting ) ->
7) A woman ( unhappy) ->
8) A bus (early) ->
9) An exercise (difficult ) ->
10)
A job ( easy) ->
11)
A dress ( expensive ) ->
12)
A baby (ugly) ->
13)
A ribbon (orange) ->
14)
A kitchen ( modern ) ->
15)
An elephant ( angry ) ->
16)
A question (tricky ) ->
17)
A movie ( American ) ->
18)
A story (exciting ) ->
19)
A trip (horrible ) ->
20)
A song ( English ) ->