English 2

2        Use of a/an

a/an is used:

A       Before a singular noun which is countable (i.e. of which there is more than one) when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no particular person or thing:

         I need a visa.      They live in a flat.         He bought an ice-cream.

B       Before a singular countable noun which is used as an example of a class of things:

A car must be insured

All cars/Any car must be insured.

A child needs love

All children need/Any child needs love.

C       With a noun complement. This includes names of professions:

         It was an earthquake.      She’ll be a dancer.        He is an actor.

D       In certain expressions of quantity:

         a lot of                  a couple
         a great many         a dozen (but one dozen is also possible)
         a great deal of

E       With certain numbers:

a hundred   a thousand   (See 349.)

Before half when half follows a whole number;

1 ½ kilos = one and a half kilos or a kilo and a half

But ½ kg = half a kilo (no a before half), though a + half + noun is sometimes possible:

a half-holiday    a half-portion    a half-share

 With 1/3, ¼, 1/5 etc. a is usual: a third, a quarter etc., but one is also possible. (See 350.)

F       In expressions of price, speed, ratio, etc.:

5p a kilo                 £1 a metre              sixty kilometres an hour

10 p a dozen           four times a day

 (Here a/an = per)

G      In exclamations before singular, countable nouns:

Such a long queue!           What a pretty girl!         But

Such long queues!                        What pretty girls!

(Plural nouns, so no article. See 3.)

H       a can be placed before Mr/Mrs/Miss + surname:

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. Mr Smith, without a, implies that the speaker knows Mr Smith or knows of his existence.

P.Misheel