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Definite and indefinite articles
1. We use a/an to talk about:
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before a singular, countable noun or noun phrase
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when we first talk about a person, an object or a place
2. We use the to talk about:
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before a noun if there is only one of its kind
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before a person, an object or a place that we already talked about
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when our listener or reader knows which person, object or place
3. We use a before words that start with a consonant sound.
4. We use an before words that start with a vowel sound.
5. The use of a or an depends on the pronunciation of the word, not the spelling.
6. The pronunciation rule also applies to abbreviations.
Elementary
Intermediate/Advanced
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