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a (4)

a [ stressed ay, unstressed ə ] CORE MEANING: a determiner, used before a singular countable noun to refer to one person or thing not previously known or specified, in contrast with 'the', referring to somebody or something known to the listener

I need a new car.

det

Definition:

1. indicates type: used before a noun to indicate that somebody or something has some of the same qualities as the person or thing mentioned

a Hercules

He's a genius.

2. one: used instead of 'one' with words of measurement

a teaspoonful of salt

3. per: in each or in every

twice a day

4. indicates somebody not known personally: used to indicate somebody not personally known, but known of

There's a Mr O'Flynn here to see you.

5. any: used in negative structures to emphasize a complete absence of something

He doesn't have a hope!

[ Old English, shortening of ān (see one)]

Word Usage


	a or an? A is the form of the indefinite article used before words that are pronounced with an initial consonant sound (even if the spelling does not begin with a consonant): a banana; a hunk; a ewe. An is used before words that begin with a vowel sound (even if an unpronounced consonant comes first): an elephant; an heir. The same rule regarding sound rather than spelling applies to abbreviations: a CD but an LP. The practice of using an before words beginning with h and an unstressed syllable (for example an hotel, an historic occasion) is falling out of use, and it is much more usual now to hear a hotel and a historic occasion, with the h sounded in each word.

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