Vowel Sounds - When to use A and An

Students struggle with this on a regular basis so it is necessary for them to have a lot of
practice.

1. An is used with singular countable nouns that begin with a vowel.

2.A is used with singular countable nouns that begin with a consonant.

Using an and a does not depend on the spelling of the word it comes before, it
depends on the pronunciation of the word. In most cases though, an is used before
words that begin with vowels (a, e, i, o u.):
an apple
an elephant
an igloo
an oven
an umbrella

If a word starts with a consonant sound, use a.

a ball
a car
a doll

Vowel Sounds
It is very important to know that when a word starts with a vowel sound, you should
use an. Sometimes u is pronounced as y. Try saying these two words, see if notice how
the u is pronounced in two different ways.
an unforgettable experience - unforgettable has a vowel sound so we use an.
a university - university has a y sound so we use a.
This is also the case with o, which may sometimes have a w sound. Compare:
an octopus - octopus starts with a vowel sound.
a one track mind - one-track starts has a w sound.

The Silent h
Sometimes with words that begin with h, the h sound is not pronounced. Unfortunately
there is no rule about when the h is silent. Let's look at an example.
an honour - the h is silent. We use an because the honour has a vowel sound because
the h is not pronounced: (h)onour.
a historic day - the h is pronounced. Historic starts with an h sound.
Exercise 1

.Use a or an. Write the correct forms of the indefinite articles into the gaps.

. Example: We are reading a book.

I saw an unicorn

1. There is green English book on the desk.

2. She's reading old comic.
3. They've got idea.
4. He is drinking cup of coffee.
5. The girl is pilot.
6. Leipzig has airport.
7. This is expensive bike.
8. Look! There's bird flying.
9. My father is honest person.
10. My friend likes to be astronaut

Exercise 2

Complete with a or an the following sentences:

1.John wants of jeans.

2.Silvia has iPad.
3.Atsuko is reading bicycle.
4.He would like pair of shoes.
5Bob is reading book.
6.Alfonso has Apple computer.
7.He is driving car.
8.Look! There is electric guitar.
9.Miguel needs skateboard .
10.Sonya wants umbrella.
Use of some and any
Some and any are used to state the quantity, amount of something. When using some or
any, the exact number is not stated. Some and any are quantifiers.

Some and any can be used when:

1. The exact number is not known.

2. The exact number is not important or relevant.
3. Some and any are used with countable and uncountable nouns.

Study the following tables:

Interrogative Affirmative Negative

Are there any tomatoes in the fridge? Yes, there are some. No, there aren't any.

Is there any orange juice? Yes, there is some. No, there isn't any.

Offering Responding

Would you like some coffee? Yes please I'd like some.

Making a request Responding

Would you mind lending me some money? Of course here you are.

The rules of some and many:

SOME:

Use some in positive (affirmative) sentences. Some is used for both countable and
uncountable nouns.

Examples:
I have some friends.(friends is countable)
I'd like some water. (water is uncountable)
ANY:

Use any for countable and uncountable nouns in:

1. interrogative sentences.
Examples:
Have you got any cheese? (cheese is uncountable)
Have you got any friends? (friends is countable)
2. negative sentences.
Example:
He hasn't got any cheese.
He hasn't got any friends in Chicago.

EXCEPTION:

Use some in questions when offering or requesting something.

Example:

 Would you like some bread? (offer)

 Can I have some water, please? (request)

Exercise 3

Some or any? Choose the correct answer.

1.Have you got ______ cigarettes?

2. I like ______ pop music but not all.

3. I don't like ______ pop music. I hate it all.

4. I love the Beatles. I love ______ song by them.

5. ______ people don't like Bill Clinton.

6. I love ______thing with chocolate in it.

7. ______body told me the news but I cannot remember who it was.

8. You mustn't tell ______body.

9. I don't drink ______ alcohol at all.

10. I'm afraid I haven't ______ solution to the problem.

Exercise 4.

Fill each space with either some or any.

1. Before we leave, I have to get money and my cigarettes. Wait a moment.

2. people think they have the right to a job without having to work!

3. I don't have children yet, but we want to have two or three eventually.

4. Don't worry about going shopping tomorrow. bus will take you straight into the
centre of the town.

5. Are there Italian restaurants in your part of town?

6. "Which CD do you want to put on?" "Oh, . I just want to hear some music!"

7. Would you like wine with your meal, sir?

8. Yes, I would. Bring me red wine that you have.

9. Do you want help with that biology assignment you have to do?

10. This was an easy exercise and I didn't make mistakes!

Much, many, a lot of, lots of: quantifiers

A lot of, much and many are used to talk about quantities, amounts and degree.

A LOT OF :

A lot of can be used in all sentences: affirmative, negative and interrogative, with both
countable and uncountable nouns.

 We learned a lot of new English words.

 We didn't learn a lot of grammar.
 Did you learn a lot of English expressions?

There is hardly any difference between a lot of and lots of. Lots of is slightly more
informal.

 The new owner made a lot of money on the stock market.

 Charlie's got lots of money and he's generous with it.

A lot (without of) means a great deal. A lot is not followed by a noun.

 Tom knows a lot of vocabulary.

 Charlie is talkative. He talks a lot.

MUCH :

Much is used with singular uncountable nouns (for example: 'much English')

 I don't know much English yet.

 Do you get much homework to do?

MANY Many is used with plural countable nouns (for example: 'many words')

 I don't know many words yet.

 Do you get many exercises to do?
Much and many are more commonly used in negative and interrogative sentences.
They are rarely used in affirmative sentences, except:

 If they begin a sentence:

o Many people believe all they hear.
o Much of what was said was confusing.

 If they are preceded by ‘so’, ‘as’ and ‘too’ and in some expressions with ‘very’:
o There was much noise.
o There was so much noise that I couldn’t hear very well.
o We ate many cherries.
o You can eat as many cherries as you like.
o They gave us much information.
o They gave us too much information.
o I enjoyed the film very much.

 In formal or written English.

In affirmative sentences much and many are more often used
in formal or written English, whereas a lot of / lots of are more common
in informal conversation.
In newspaper reports and headlines, for example, much and many are
generally used.

Although much and many are less frequently used in affirmative sentences, they can
however be used:

 The results of the elections led to much concern.

 There are many books available on the subject.

MUCH and MANY + OF:

Before articles (a/an, the), demonstratives (this, that), possessives (my, your) or
pronouns (her, them), we need to use of with much and many:

 Much of his life was devoted to humanitarian causes.

 Not many of the witnesses could describe the attacker.

TO SUM UP:
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
We learn a lot of English. I don't know a lot of English. Do you learn a lot of English?

She spends much time on her She doesn't spend much/a lot Does she spend much/a lot of
homework.. of time on her homework. time on her homework?
She spends a lot of time on
her homework.

Sam watches many Sam doesn't watch many/a lot Does Sam watch many/a lot
domentaries on TV. of films on TV. of news reports on TV?
Sam watches a lot
of documentaries on TV.

But:
Much effort went into the It doesn't require much/a lot Does it require much/a lot
preparation. of preparation. of preparation?

Many people drive too fast. We don't meet many/a lot Do you meet many/a lot
of people. of people?

Exercise 5

Complete the questions with how much or how many.

1. lemonade have we got? We've got only one bottle.

2. bottles of juice are in the fridge? Three.
3. meat do we have? We have got two steaks.
4. bananas have we got? We haven't got any.
5. sugar have we got? Enough.
6. bread do we need? Two loafs of bread.
7. pens are in your bag? Six.
8. money have we got? We haven't got a lot.
9. bikes are there in the garden? Two.
10. children have they got? Two girls and a boy.
11. milk have we got? About one and a half litres.
12. steaks have we got? We've got eight steaks.
13. time do you need to finish your homework? An hour.
14. friends does she invite to her party? More than 30.
15. people work in your father's company? Seven, I think.

Exercise 6

1. She can drink ______water, but she cannot drink much coffee.

2. She does not eat______ meat, but she eats a lot of vegetables.

3. She has got a lot of dresses, but she has not ______skirts.

4. She does not buy much perfume, but she buys_____ clothes.

5. Every morning she buys a lot of newspapers, but she does not buy_____ magazines.

6. How______ English books have you got?

7. I have got ______English books, but I have not got many Spanish ones.

8. How______ money do you need to buy this French dictionary?

9. Are there ______new students in the class?

10. There are not_____ Italian teachers in that school, but there are a lot of English
ones.

Answer key:

Exercise 1. Exercise 2.
1. a 1.a
2. an 2.an
3. an 3.a
4 .a 4.a
5. a 5.a
6. an 6.an
7. an 7.a
8. a 8.an
9. an 9.a
10 .an 10.an
Exercise 3. Exercise 4.
1.any 1.some
2.some 2.some
3.any 3.any
4.any 4.any
5.some 5.some
6.any 6.any
7.some 7.some
8.any 8.any
9.any 9.any
10.any 10.any

Exercise 5
1.How many
2.How many
3.Hiw much
4.How much
6.How many
7.How many
8.How much
9.How many
10.How many
11.How much
12.How many
13.How much
14.How many
15.How much

Exercise 6.
1.a lot of
2.much
3.many
4. a lot of
5.many
6.many
7.a lot of
8.much
9.many
10.many