A/an, plurals: Singular and plural forms

Grammar / A1 Grammar lessons and exercises A/an, plurals: Singular and plural forms

✏️ Exercises

A/An and Plurals – Grammar Rules

Grammar chart for a/an and plurals: rules for using articles and forming regular and irregular plurals

A/An – Use with Singular Nouns

We use a or an with singular countable nouns.

This is a table.

It’s an orange.

A or An? – First Sound Matters

Use a before words that start with a consonant sound.
Use an before words that start with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).

Give me an apple. (a β†’ /Γ¦/ = vowel sound)

There is an elephant in the zoo. (e β†’ /Ι›/ = vowel sound)

It’s an amazing experience. (a β†’ /Ι™/ = vowel sound)

A/An with H – Silent vs Pronounced

Use an if h is not pronounced.
Use a if h is pronounced.

Give me an hour. (The h is silent: "our")

I want to buy a hat. (The h is pronounced)

A/An with U – The /ju:/ Sound

Use a (not an) before words like university or uniform because the u sounds like /ju:/ (consonant-like 'y' sound).

Is there a university in this city?

I wear a uniform.

Plurals – No A/An!

We do NOT use a or an with plural nouns.

correctThese are tables.
wrongThese are a tables.

Regular Plurals – Add -s or -es

Most plural nouns are formed by adding -s.
Sometimes we add -es, -ies, or -ves depending on spelling.

  • table β†’ tables
  • box β†’ boxes (-es)
  • city β†’ cities (-ies)
  • leaf β†’ leaves (-ves)

Check the grammar chart above for full spelling rules.

Irregular Plurals – No -s!

Some nouns have irregular plural forms and do not add -s.

child β†’ children

man β†’ men

mouse β†’ mice

tooth β†’ teeth