SKILL 53: DISTINGUISH 'A' AND 'AN'
The basic difference between “a” and “an” is that a is used in front of consonants and an is used in front of vowels (a, e, i, o, u):
• a book
• a man
• a page
• an orange
• an illness
• an automobile
There are two exceptions to this rule: u and h.
When “u” is pronounced like the consonant “y” (as in usual), it is preceded by the article “a” rather than “an”.
When “h” is not pronounced (as in honor), it is preceded by the article “an” rather than “a”. Pronounce the following
examples:
• a university
• a unit
• an unhappy man
• an understanding
• a hospital
• a heart
• an honor
• an herb
