Lesson 2: A, An, or Nothing at All

A hour or an hour? A university or an university? The rule is not about the letter you write — it is about the sound you say. And half the time English wants no little word at all.

How to use this lesson. Read each conversation aloud, slowly, two or three times. Do not worry about speed — clear is better than fast. Notice the expressions under each conversation, then try the practice at the end. If you can, read with a friend and take turns playing each person.

1. She Got Something

Nia: Did she find work?

Owen: She got a job at the museum.

Nia: Full time?

Owen: Four days. It's a good start.

Nia: Tell her congratulations.

Useful expressionsShe got a job at the museum.Did she find work?It's a good start.Tell her congratulations.

2. What Does He Do?

Bea: What does your brother do?

Rafi: He's an engineer.

Bea: Which kind?

Rafi: Bridges. He's an engineer at the council.

Bea: That explains the maps.

Useful expressionsHe's an engineer.What does your brother do?He's an engineer at the council.That explains the maps.

3. How Long Is the Wait?

Sol: How long is the wait?

Tess: An hour, they said.

Sol: An hour for a haircut?

Tess: It's Saturday.

Sol: I'll come back at four.

Tess: Bring a book.

Useful expressionsAn hour, they said.How long is the wait?An hour for a haircut?Bring a book.

4. Studying in the North

Ivo: Where's your daughter now?

Mai: A university in the north.

Ivo: Studying what?

Mai: Law. It's a university with a good name.

Ivo: You must be proud.

Useful expressionsA university in the north.Where's your daughter now?It's a university with a good name.You must be proud.

5. How Many at Home?

Kian: Big family?

Ana: Two sisters and a brother.

Kian: Older or younger?

Ana: Two sisters older, the brother younger.

Kian: Middle child, then.

Ana: The loud one.

Useful expressionsTwo sisters and a brother.Big family?Two sisters older, the brother younger.Middle child, then.

6. The Morning Commute

Gus: How's the commute?

Lea: Trains here are late every morning.

Gus: Every morning?

Lea: Most. Trains were better last year.

Gus: Everything was.

Useful expressionsTrains here are late every morning.How's the commute?Trains were better last year.Everything was.

7. Only One Person Can Sign

Dov: Who signs this?

Rina: The manager. Only her.

Dov: Is she in?

Rina: Back at two. The manager's the only one with the stamp.

Dov: Two, then.

Useful expressionsThe manager. Only her.Who signs this?The manager's the only one with the stamp.Back at two.

8. Still Not Finished

Yusuf: Is Hana at home?

Pia: Still at work. She finishes at seven.

Yusuf: On a Sunday?

Pia: Stock take. She'll go straight to bed.

Yusuf: Tell her I called.

Useful expressionsStill at work.Is Hana at home?She'll go straight to bed.Tell her I called.

Words to know

a job	a singular countable noun almost never stands alone — it needs a, an or the She got a job at the museum.
an engineer	an goes before a vowel sound: an engineer, an apple, an old car He's an engineer at the council.
an hour	hour starts with a silent h, so the first sound is a vowel — the sound decides, not the spelling An hour, they said.
a university	university starts with a yoo sound, which counts as a consonant, so it takes a A university in the north.
two sisters	a and an mean one, so they never go in front of a plural Two sisters and a brother.
trains	for a general statement about a plural thing, use no the at all Trains here are late every morning.
the manager	the when there is only one, or when you both know which one you mean The manager. Only her.
at work	a few set phrases drop the little word completely: at work, at home, in bed, by car Still at work. She finishes at seven.

Quick practice

Each line below has one small word too many, one missing, or the wrong one. Say the whole line correctly out loud, then check the answers.

1. Not: She got job at the museum.
Say: _______________

2. Not: He's a engineer at the council.
Say: _______________

3. Not: A hour, they said.
Say: _______________

4. Not: An university in the north.
Say: _______________

5. Not: A two sisters and a brother.
Say: _______________

6. Not: The trains here are late every morning.
Say: _______________

Show the answers

1. She got a job at the museum. 2. He's an engineer at the council. 3. An hour, they said. 4. A university in the north. 5. Two sisters and a brother. 6. Trains here are late every morning.

Common mistakes

Not: Their coming at six, and the keys are over their.

Say: They're coming at six, and the keys are over there.

they're is short for they are. their shows possession: their car. there is a place: over there.

Not: I'm to tired to cook, and it's to late.

Say: I'm too tired to cook, and it's too late.

too with two o's means more than you want. to with one o goes in front of a verb or a place: to cook, to London.

Not: I should of called you.

Say: I should have called you.

should have sounds like should of when people speak fast, but of is never a verb. Write should have, or the short form should've.

Your turn

Say these five aloud. Listen to the first sound of the noun, not the first letter.

Say what job you do, starting with I'm a or I'm an.
Say how long your journey to work takes, using an hour or half an hour.
Name two things in your street that are always late, with no the in front.
Say how many brothers and sisters you have, with no a in front of the number.
Say where you are right now, using at work, at home or in bed.

Quick review

Say these four out loud, twice: an hour, a university, an honest answer, a European city. Every one of them breaks the spelling rule and follows the sound rule. Trust your ear, not your eye, and this stops being a problem tonight.