Lesson 3 Articles

You need to put an article before a noun. It depends of the first letter in the word, if the word
starts with a consonant, you must use the article “a” and when the word starts with a vowel,
you must use the article “an”.

Nouns which start with a vowel

Examples:

 Elephant

There is an elephant in the zoo.

 Apple

I have an apple in my breakfast.

 Orange

He put an orange on the table.

Nouns which start with a consonant

In this case we use the article “a” because the next word starts with a consonant.

Nouns which start with “h”

Here we have an exception according to the spelling, when a word starts with “h” we have to
write this sentence like it is a vowel if the letter “h” doesn’t sound. If we have to pronounce
the letter h we are going to put the article “a” due to the pronunciation is related with a word
which starts with a consonant.

Examples:

 Honour

This is an honour for me to be in this event.

In this case we don’t have to pronounce de “h” because it’s mute. So we assume that the word
starts with a vowel.

 Horn

I used a horn in my uncle’s car.

In this case we have to pronounce the letter “H” so we assume that this is a
consonant and then we use the article “a”.

Exercise 1 link: https://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/vowel-sounds-when-use-a-

and-an
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEu3Sh24EgY

Exceptions

We have exceptions when we use “a” or “an”.

a) When we have a word which starts with “u” and sounds like “you”, we use the
article “a”.

Example:
He puts a unicorn in his tale.

b) When we have a word which starts with “u” and sounds like a vowel, we use the
article “an”.

Example:
We use an umbrella when the winter begins.

c) When we have an adjective before the noun.

Example:
That is a green umbrella.

Exercise 2:

Put the right article in the next sentences using “a” or “an” according the case.

1) I love to eat _____ yellow banana every morning.

2) My sister bought ____ car yesterday.
3) I’m gonna take ___ airplane to Guayaquil in a few hours.
4) She’s asking for ___ employ in this enterprise.
5) They study ____ Doppler effect in physics.
6) I play tennis with ___ friend every weekend.
 7) I found ____ interesting illustration in this book.
8) We have ____ cat at home and we love it.
9) The President took ____ Presidential Airplane.
10) He is reading _____ book in the living room.
11) There is ____ U.F.O. in the sky.
12) I need ___ umbrella because starts raining.
13) This is ___ unique form of life.
14) I war recording ___ MP3 song.

Important rule: It’s necessary before to put “a” or “an” to pronounce the sentence, hear the
sound and then take a decision.

Exercise 3:

Write 5 sentences using “a” or “an”, using the next vocabulary.

Personal presentation
Saluting words

Saying hello

 Hi (informal)
 Hello (formal)
 Good morning
 Good afternoon
 Good evening

Saying good bye

 Good Night
 Bye (informal)
 Good bye (formal)
 See you later.
 Take care
 Have a nice day.
 See you later.
 See you tomorrow.
 See you next week.
 See you soon.
Questions (Q) and Answers (A)

 (Q) How are you?

 (A) I’m fine, thanks.

 (Q) How are you doing? (informal)

 (A) I’m ok.
 (A) I’m doing great.

 (Q) What is your name?

 (A) My name is_______.

Professions:
Characters:

Charles