a/an and one

We use 'a' before a consonant and 'an' before a vowel.

Examples:

a dog
a cat
a ticket

but:

an umbrella
an orange
an an honest man

attention! as it depends on the pronunciation of the following word, not the spelling.

an S.O.S.
an hour

We use 'one', not a/an:

• In contrast with another or other(s)
• In the expression one day

• With hundred and thousand when we want to sound precise
• In expressions like only one and just on

Examples:

One girl wanted to go out, but the others wanted to stay at home.
One day I'll take you to meet my family.
'How many are there? About a hundred?' 'Exactly one hundred and three.'
We've got plenty sausages, but only one egg.



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