Choosing A or An
Use the correct form of the indefinite article — 'a' before words beginning with a consonant sound and 'an' before words beginning with a vowel sound (e.g., a rock, an open box, an hour, a unicorn)
Teaching approaches
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1 approach
When your child writes, do they automatically choose "a" before a word that starts with a consonant sound and "an" before a vowel sound — like "a cat" but "an apple" or "an hour"?
Use the correct form of the indefinite article — 'a' before words beginning with a consonant sound and 'an' before words beginning with a vowel sound (e.g., a rock, an open box, an hour, a unicorn)
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Check understanding
- Choose 'a' or 'an' correctly before nouns beginning with consonant or vowel sounds (e.g., 'a ball', 'an egg', 'an umbrella')
- Apply the rule to tricky words where spelling and sound differ (e.g., 'an hour' because /h/ is silent, 'a uniform' because /juː/ starts with a consonant sound)
- Correct errors in a/an usage in given sentences (e.g., change 'a orange' to 'an orange')
“When your child writes, do they automatically choose "a" before a word that starts with a consonant sound and "an" before a vowel sound — like "a cat" but "an apple" or "an hour"?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Language
- Subject
- English
- Domain
- Grammar & Punctuation
- Age range
- Ages 7–8
Standards