Home/Common English Mistakes/Grammar/Adjectives/Using a and an before adjectives
Home/Common English Mistakes/Grammar/Adjectives/Using a and an before adjectives

Using a and an before adjectives

The rule for using either a or an before adjectives + nouns is the same as before nouns. An should be used before adjectives that begin with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).

  • an apple
    (vowel sound/a-pel)
  • a red apple
    (no vowel sound/reh-d)
  • an improvement
    (vowel sound/im-pru-v-ment)
  • a massive improvement
    (no vowel sound/mah-seh-f)
  • a gentleman
    (no vowel sound/gen-til-man)
  • an honourable gentleman
    (silent h/vowel sound/on-er-rable)