1. We use a/an/ø with general nouns.
Use 'an' before words that begin with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) and 'a' before words that begin with a consonant.
-For example:
• a dog
• a house
• a manager
• a restaurant
• a taxi
• a doctor
• an apple
• an engineer
• an architect
• an English teacher
Note:
Words that begin with a “u” or “h” take 'an' if the noun begins with a vowel sound (an umbrella, an heir) and 'a' if the noun begins with a consonant sound (a university, a house).
2. We use 'the' with specific nouns or when there is only one of something.
- For example:
• the sun
• the moon
• the earth
• the library
• the bank
3. We do NOT use 'a', 'an' with we, they or you (plural).
- For example:
• They're architecs