A & An : Proper Usage of Articles.

Articles are of  Two types. They are

1. Indefinite articles ......... A/An

2. Definite articles ........... The 

What's the difference?

        If you want to say about ANY item, you should use the article A/An. If you want to say about a SPECIFIC item, you should use the article The.

Confused? Let's see in detail with an example.

Indefinite Article:

" A "

The indefinite article 'A'  is used before singular countable nouns that start with a consonant sound. [a,e,i,o,u are called vowels,others are consonants]

    1. Before words beginning with consonant sound. 

•  A boy
•  A child
•  A student
•  A book

    2. With a vowel giving the sound of a consonant.

• A one eyed man
• A European
• A uniform
• A university student

   3. In the sense of  one,

• He couldn't speak a word to save himself.

      With 'one' (since begins with the sound of 'W')

• A one-man show
• A one rupee note

   4. With units and rate.

• He earns rupees five hundred a month.

   5. In exclamatory expressions before singular countable nouns.

• What a pretty girl!

   6. When two subjects or articles are thought of as a single unit.

• He was ready with a cup and saucer.

   7. With certain expressions of quantity.

• A lot of 
• A dozen
• A great deal of
• A couple

   8. With a special meal (to celebrate something or in someone honour)

• I called my friends to a lunch to celebrate my success.

   9.  To make a common noun of a proper noun.e.g.,

• This man is 'a second Newton'.
• This phrase means 'a philosopher as great as Newton'.

" An "

 The indefinite article 'An' is used before singular countable nouns that start with a vowel sound.
 [a,e,i,o,u are called vowels,others are consonants].

     1. Before words beginning with a vowel sounds. e.g.,

• An elephant
• An apple
• An ass
• An umbrella

    2.  Before words beginning with a mute 'h' e.g.,

• An hour
• An honourable person
• An heir
• An honest man

   3.  With a consonant pronounced with the sound of a vowel. F,H,L,M,N,R,S,X are letters that are not vowels but begin with vowel sound 'M' has the sound of  'em'. So 'an' is used before abbreviations beginning with vowels of these letters.

•  An LLB student
•  An M.L.A.
•  An x-ray
•  An M.P.

          That's all for today friends, tomorrow we will discuss the article THE.
          
          Good Day