Use of aan 1 aan is used Before

Use of a/an 1. a/an is used: Before a singular countable noun, when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no particular person or thing: Example: I need a visa. They live in a flat. He brought an ice-cream.

Use of a/an 2. a/an is used: Before a countable singular noun which is used as an example of a class of things: Example: A car must be insured = All cars must be insured. = Any car must be insured. A child needs love = All children need love. = Any child needs love

Use of a/an 3. a/an is used: With a noun complement. This includes names of professions: Example: It was an earthquake. He is an actor. She will be a dancer.

Use of a/an 4. a/an is used: In certain expressions of quantity. Such as: A lot of many a couple a great deal of. . a dozen a great

Use of a/an 5. a/an is used: With certain numbers: A hundred a thousand. . Before half when half follows a whole number: 1, 5 kg = one and a half kilos = a kilo and a half With 1/3, 1/4, 1/5 etc. a is usual: A third, a quarter, a fifth. . .

Use of a/an 6. a/an is used: In expressions of price, speed, ratio etc. : Example: 5 p a kilo 5$ a meter sixty kilometres an hour 10 c a dozen four times a day

Use of a/an 7. a/an is used: In exclamations before singular, countable nouns: Example: Such a long queue! What a pretty girl!

Use of a/an 8. a/an is used: A can be placed before Mr/ Mrs/ Miss + surname: Example: a Mr. Smith a Mrs. Smith a Miss Smith a Mr. Smith means 'a man called Smith' and implies that he is a stranger to the speaker.

Use of a/an 9. a/an is omitted: a. Before plural nouns. b. Before uncountable nouns. c. Before names of meals, except when these are preceded by an adjective: Example: We have breakfast at eight. He gave us a good breakfast.

Use of a/an Source: All texts, including examples, used in this presentations were taken or adapted from: Thomson A. J. , Martinet A. V. , A Practical English Grammar, Fourth edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1986.