ESL Blues Common Errors Explained: A, AN, SOME

	ESL	Understanding
	Blues	a, an, (some)

This is an interesting book.

Common Error: This is a interesting book.

This is a unique experience. Let's enjoy it.

Common Error: This is an unique experience. Let's enjoy it.

Is this a hotel?

Common Error: Is this an hotel?

I always drink (some) water when I eat.

Common Error: I always drink a water when I eat.

GUIDE

Use a

before a word that begins with a consonant.
- I'd like a (can/bottle of) coke, please.
before a word that begins with 'u' when the 'u' is pronounced like the 'you' in 'youth.'
- An inch is a unit of measurement.
before most words beginning with 'h.' EXCEPTIONS: 'hour,' 'honest,' 'heir'(see below).
- An honest person is a happy person.

Use an

before a word that begins with a vowel sound.
- I'd like an orange juice, please.
before the words 'hour,' 'honest,' 'heir' where the 'h' is not pronounced (see above).
- I will return in half an hour.

Watch out! Don't use a or an before non-count* nouns like water, milk, money, etc.

I always have (some) money in my pocket when I go out.

(*A non-count noun is a noun that we don't normally count. We don't normally say: "I have three moneys.")

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