a

Universal Words indefinite article HELPNOTE The form a is used before consonant sounds and the form an before vowel sounds. When saying abbreviations like 'FM' or 'UN', use a or an according to how the first letter is said. For example, F is a consonant, but begins with the sound / e / and so you say: an FM radio. U is a vowel but begins with / j / and so you say: a UN declaration. 1 used before countable or singular nouns referring to people or things that have not already been mentioned: a man / horse / unit * an aunt / egg / hour / x-ray * I can only carry two at a time. * There's a visitor for you. * She's a friend of my father's (= one of my father's friends). 2 used before uncountable nouns when these have an adjective in front of them, or phrase following them: a good knowledge of French * a sadness that won't go away 3 any; every: A lion is a dangerous animal. 4 used to show that sb/sth is a member of a group or profession: Their new car's a BMW. * She's a Buddhist. * He's a teacher. * Is that a Monet (= a painting by Monet)? 5 used in front of two nouns that are seen as a single unit: a knife and fork 6 used instead of one before some numbers: A thousand people were there. 7 used when talking about prices, quantities and rates SYNPER: They cost 50p a kilo. * I can type 50 words a minute. * He was driving at 50 miles an hour. 8 a person like sb: She's a little Hitler. 9 used before sb's name to show that the speaker does not know the person: There's a Mrs Green to see you. 10 used before the names of days of the week to talk about one particular day: She died on a Tuesday.