ESL BLUES
Common Errors with A, AN, SOME
This is
an
interesting book.
Common Error:
This is
a
interesting book.
This is
a
unique experience. Let's enjoy it.
Common Error:
This is
an
unique experience. Let's enjoy it.
Is this
a
hotel?
Common Error:
Is this
an
hotel?
I always drink
(some)
water when I eat.
Common Error:
I always drink
a
water when I eat.
RULES
Use
a
before a word that begins with a consonant.
I'd like
a
coke, please.
before a word that begins with 'u' when the 'u' is pronounced like the 'you' in 'youth.'
An inch is
a
unit of measurement.
before most words beginning with 'h.' EXCEPTIONS: 'hour,' 'honest,' 'heir'(see below).
An
honest person is
a
happy person.
Use
an
before a word that begins with a vowel sound.
I'd like
an
orange juice, please.
before the words 'hour,' 'honest,' 'heir' where the 'h' is not pronounced (see above).
I will return in half
an
hour.
Watch out!
Don't use
a
or
an
before non-count* nouns like water, milk, money, etc.
I always have
(some)
money in my pocket when I go out.
(*A non-count noun is a noun that we don't normally count. We don't normally say: "I have
three
moneys.")
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