# A or An?

## When to Say _a_ or _an_

The indefinite article is _**a**_ or _**an**_. But how do we know when to say _**a**_ and when to say _**an**_?

The rule is really very simple. It depends on the **SOUND** at the start of the following word. (It does not depend on the way we WRITE the following word, it depends on the way we SAY it.)

### _a_ + consonant SOUND

If the following word starts with a consonant SOUND, then we say _**a :**_

* a **d**og
* a **g**ame of tennis
* a **h**uman error
* a **N**orwegian
* a **v**ery big stick

### _an_ + vowel SOUND

If the following word starts with a vowel SOUND, then we say _**an**_ :

* an **a**ntelope
* an **e**asy climb
* an **i**nteresting suggestion
* an **o**ld dog
* an **u**mbrella

### The Importance of SOUND

Normally, we pronounce consonant letters with a consonant sound, and vowel letters with a vowel sound. But there are some exceptions. The rule about _**a**_ or _**an**_ is still the same. You just need to think about the SOUND, not the WRITING. Look at these examples:

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