use of articles a, an, the

[Nancy Arnold]

I am using the printable handout: A,An, or The. How do I explain to my student why correct usage is "a" one-day training course or "An" MA?

[2006]

I am using the printable handout: A,An, or The.

How do I explain to my student why correct usage is "a" one-day training course or "An" MA?

Whether to use 'a' or 'an' depends on the sound of the first letter following the 'a' or 'an', not on whether that letter is a vowel or consonant.



a one-day training... "one" begins with a 'w' sound, so 'a' is correct.
an MA.... The 'M' is an 'em' sound, so 'an' is correct.