Indefinite Articles
Indefinite articles "a" and "an" refer to nonspecific singular nouns. "A" is used before words starting with consonant sounds, and "an" is used before vowel sounds.
Indefinite Articles with Adjectives
1. Placement of Indefinite Articles Before Adjectives
When an adjective describes a noun, the indefinite article ("a" or "an") comes before the adjective. The article is still chosen based on the sound of the adjective that follows it, not the noun.
2. Rules and Examples
The same rules for choosing "a" or "an" apply when adjectives are used:
"A" before adjectives starting with a consonant sound::
a tall building
a smart student
a unique idea (pronounced /juːˈniːk/)
"An" before adjectives starting with a vowel sound:
an old house
an exciting story
an honest opinion (silent "h")