Section outline

  • Article 'an' is used before singular countable nouns beginning with a vowel sound.

    Examples:

    An orange, an elephant, an egg, etc.

    Exception:

    Article 'an' is used before nouns which begin with a consonant when written but make a vowel sound when spoken.

    Examples: 

    An hour, an heir, an honest person, etc.

    (These nouns begin with a vowel sound as the sound of 'h' is silent.)

    An MLA, an MP, etc. 

    (These nouns begin with a vowel sound 'em')