To solve this worksheet, we need to decide whether to use
a or
an before each noun phrase.
The Rule:
- Use
an if the next word starts with a
vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).
- Use
a if the next word starts with a
consonant sound.
*Note: Sometimes a word starts with a vowel letter but makes a consonant sound (like "university" sounds like "you"), so we use "a". Sometimes a word starts with a consonant letter but is silent (like "hour"), so we use "an".*
Let's go through each sentence step by step:
1.
You have \_\_\_ eye...
- "Eye" starts with an 'e' sound (vowel).
- Answer:
an (Already filled in)
2.
And \_\_\_ very good way...
- "Very" starts with a 'v' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a (Already filled in)
3.
However, I will give you \_\_\_ idea.
- "Idea" starts with an 'i' sound (vowel).
- Answer:
an
4.
But in \_\_\_ moment he began again.
- "Moment" starts with an 'm' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a
5.
In \_\_\_ hour I'll talk to you.
- "Hour" starts with an 'h', but the 'h' is silent. It sounds like it starts with 'o' (vowel).
- Answer:
an
6.
Again, I must not give \_\_\_ answer.
- "Answer" starts with an 'a' sound (vowel).
- Answer:
an
7.
He really hadn't \_\_\_ idea.
- "Idea" starts with an 'i' sound (vowel).
- Answer:
an
8.
And it looked \_\_\_ good place to go.
- "Good" starts with a 'g' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a
9.
It had been \_\_\_ part of his own life.
- "Part" starts with a 'p' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a
10.
It was not \_\_\_ house they found.
- "House" starts with an 'h' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a
11.
In those few moments he lived \_\_\_ age.
- "Age" starts with an 'a' sound (vowel).
- Answer:
an
12.
This cannot be done in \_\_\_ day.
- "Day" starts with a 'd' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a
13.
His interest in life was at \_\_\_ end.
- "End" starts with an 'e' sound (vowel).
- Answer:
an
14.
In \_\_\_ instant I was \_\_\_ business man.
- First blank: "Instant" starts with an 'i' sound (vowel) →
an
- Second blank: "Business" starts with a 'b' sound (consonant) →
a
- Answers:
an,
a
15.
Don't you say \_\_\_ word.
- "Word" starts with a 'w' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a
16.
It hadn't been this way for \_\_\_ long time.
- "Long" starts with an 'l' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a
17.
Let this matter be for \_\_\_ hour.
- "Hour" has a silent 'h'. It sounds like it starts with 'o' (vowel).
- Answer:
an
18.
We just couldn't do \_\_\_ thing.
- "Thing" starts with a 'th' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a
19.
It's good to see \_\_\_ man again.
- "Man" starts with an 'm' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a
20.
But it isn't so with \_\_\_ man.
- "Man" starts with an 'm' sound (consonant).
- Answer:
a
Final Answer:
3. an
4. a
5. an
6. an
7. an
8. a
9. a
10. a
11. an
12. a
13. an
14. an, a
15. a
16. a
17. an
18. a
19. a
20. a
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of grammar practice worksheets.
