A / AN
A: a … = one thing or person:
Rachel works in a bank. (not in bank)
Can I ask a question? (not ask question)
I don’t have a job at the moment.
There’s a woman at the bus stop.
B: an (not a) before a/e/i/o/u:
Do you want an apple or a banana?
I’m going to buy a hat and an umbrella.
There was an interesting programme on TV last night.
also an hour (h is not pronounced: an Xour)
but a university (pronounced yuniversity)
a European country (pronounced yuropean)
another (= an + other) is one word:
Can I have another cup of tea?
C: We use a/an … when we say what a thing or a person is. For example:
The sun is a star.
Basketball is a game.
Istanbul is a city inTurkey.
Dog is an animal. It’s a small animal.
John is a very nice person.
D: We use a/an … for jobs etc.:
a : What’s your job?
b: I’m a dentist. (not I’m dentist)
‘What does John do?’ ‘He’s an accountant.’
Would you like to be a doctor?
Beethoven was a composer.
Picasso was a famous painter.
Are you a teacher?
1.The plural of a noun is usually -s:
singular (= one) —> plural (= two or more)
a flower —> some flowers
a train —» two trains
one week —> a few weeks
a nice place —» some nice places
this student —> these students
a flower some flowers
- -s / -sh / -ch / -x -> -es
bus —> buses dish —> dishes
church —> churches box —> boxes
potato —> potatoes tomato —> tomatoes
-y-> -ies
baby —» babies dictionary —> dictionaries party —> parties
but -ay / -ey / -oy -> ys
day—> days monkey —> monkeys boy —> boys
-f / -fe —> -ves
shelf —> shelves knife -> knives wife —> wives
- These things are plural
scissors glasses trousers jeans shorts tights pyjamas
Do you wear glasses?
Where are the scissors? I need them.
You can also say a pair of scissors / a pair of trousers / a pair of pyjamas etc.:
I need a new pair of jeans, or I need some new jeans, (not a new jeans)
2.Some plurals do not end in -s:
this man —> these men
a woman —> some women
a child —> many children
one foot —> two feet
a tooth —> teeth
a mouse —> some mice
a sheep —> sheep
a fish —» fish
also a person two people / some people / a lot of people etc.:
She’s a nice person.
but They are nice people, (not nice persons)