The indefinite article: 'a/an' (2)

The use of 'a/an' when something is mentioned for the first time

We use a/an to introduce a person or thing for the first time. This shows that the listener or reader doesn't know what we are referring to. After this first reference, we use the.

I watched [a car1 as it came up our road. [The car] stopped outside our house and [a man] got out. [The man] was carrying [a case] in his hand. With [the case] in his hand, [the man] looked like [a salesman].

Write: Supply a/an or the in the following text.

During our journey we came to …a… bridge. As we were crossing '. ............. bridge, we met

.............. old man and spoke to him. .............. man refused to answer us at first. He could tell at a glance that we had escaped from ..............prisoner-of-war camp and he was afraid of getting into trouble. We weren't .............. first prisoners of war to have escaped from ............. camp. As soon as Jim produced ..............revolver, ..............man proved very willing to answer our questions. He told us exactly where we were and directed us to .............. farm where we might find food.

The difference between 'a/an' and 'one'

   1)       We do not use a/an + noun and one + noun in the same way.

We use a/an to mean 'any one': I'd like a coffee, please.

We use one when we are counting: It was one coffee I ordered and not two.

   2)       We use one with day, morning, evening when we are telling a story:

One day, when I was working as a salesman, I received a strange telephone call.

Compare: I had to stay in bed fora day. (= any day, it doesn't matter which)

I had to stay in bed for one day. (= one day and not two or more)

   3)       We use a/an or one with:

a) Whole numbers: done hundred, thousand.                  c) Money: done pound, dollar.

b) Fractions: done quarter, half.                                      d) Weights, measures: done kilo, foot.

Write: Supply a/an or one in these sentences. Note where you can use either a/an or one.

1 I need …a…picture-hook to hang this picture.

2 Did you say you wanted ....................... picture-hook or two?

3 ....................... nail won't be enough for this job. I need several.

4 You should use ....................... hammer to drive in those nails.

5 How many orange juices did you say? -Just ....................... orange juice, please.

6 You should get out into the fresh air on ....................... day like this!

7 .......................day, many years later, I learnt the truth. . .

8 I was out walking late.......................evening when I saw .......................strange object in the sky.

9 He says he's going to be .......................millionaire ........................d ay.

10 There were over ........................hundred people at the party.

11 Have you ever seen .......................silent movie?

12 I've only ever seen ........................silent movie.

'A/an' or zero with reference to illnesses: 'a cold'

   1)       We always use a/an with these illnesses: a cold, a headache, a sore throat.

   2)       We can use or omit a/an with these:

catch (a) cold, have (a/an) backache/earache/stomach-ache/toothache.

   3)       We use no article at all with these plurals: measles, mumps, shingles.

   4)       We use no article with these: (high) blood pressure, flu, gout, hepatitis.