Indefinite Articles: A and An

Start with the basics

The mind map Indefinite Articles introduces a and an with examples such as a ball and an apple. It is a useful place to begin if you want a short overview before trying the questions. The flashcard deck Indefinite articles (a/an) also covers first mentions, members of a group and special cases.

As you study, compare the examples in the map and the cards. Notice which article appears before each word and what the sentence is referring to.

Practice choosing a or an

After looking at the basics, try the quiz Starter ESOL a / an. It asks you to complete sentences about familiar objects, including an armchair, a chair and an egg. You can return to the map or flashcards when you want to check an article choice.

The quiz Uso de A y AN offers more examples, including elephant, university and umbrella. Its prompts refer to the sound at the beginning of the noun; some instructions are in Spanish. Compare these examples with the ones you saw in the mind map.

Explore other uses

The mind map Indefinite Article goes beyond choosing between a and an. It includes first mentions, descriptive uses, and uses where a relates to one or per. Use it after the introductory map to explore how these articles work in different contexts.

For a wider view, the Determiners mind map places indefinite articles alongside other kinds of determiners. It also includes using a or an when introducing something for the first time.

Use this section of the unit

This topic is part of the Articles, Determiners and Quantifiers unit in English language. The maps, cards and quizzes give you different ways to study the material listed in this section: read an overview, check examples, then practice in context.

Choose a map to explore, then use a quiz to put its examples into practice.