Have you ever wondered if you should write a year or an year? Which one is grammatically correct, and why? In this article, we’ll explain why “a year” is the correct choice. So, read on to learn more about the basic rules of using a and an.
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What Is a and An?
Many people get confused when it comes to using a vs. an.
Both of these words are indefinite articles, meaning they serve two special functions in a sentence:
When you refer to a noun (a person, place, or thing) in a sentence, you should put an indefinite article like “a” or “an” before it. Otherwise, your sentence will sound clunky and incorrect.
For example, you wouldn’t say, “I saw gorilla at the zoo”. Instead, you would say, “I saw a gorilla at the zoo.”
The second function of the indefinite articles “a” and “an” is to show that the noun has an identity that is unknown or specific. This may sound confusing, but it’s actually rather simple.
Just think: if you wanted to borrow a shirt from your friend, but you didn’t care which shirt, you would just ask them to lend you “a” shirt. But if your friend had borrowed a specific shirt from you and you wanted them to bring it back to you, you would ask them to bring you “the” shirt.
When you’re referring to something specific, use “the” (a definite article). Otherwise, just use “a” or “an”. When you use “a” and “an,” you introduce a noun that has an indefinite identity.
Examples:
- I need a pencil so I can complete my homework.
- He bought a balloon from the nice man on the street.
- You should never tell a lie to your friends.
- It’s a great day to go outside and get some fresh air!
- A group of students will be assigned a particular activity.
- An article of clothing was found in the basement.
- He wanted to see a movie, but nothing interesting was showing in theaters.
- Bob was excited to see an elephant at the zoo.
- It’s raining today, so you need to take an umbrella with you.
- Can you get an apple?
- Thank you for always being an amazing friend to me.
- It’s an honor to learn from such an inspiring teacher!
- You only have an hour to submit your assignment before it’s late.
Why Is A Used Before Year?
Now that you understand “a” and “an” a little better, let’s revisit the common confusion many people encounter when trying to decide between using phrases like a year or an year.
If both “a” and “an” are indefinite articles, how do you know which one to use?
The answer is simple—it all depends on the first sound of the word that comes after “a” or “an.”
If the next word in your sentence starts with a consonant sound, then you should use “a” to introduce it. Alternatively, if the next word begins with a vowel sound — a, e, i, o, u, the correct indefinite article is “an.” By doing so, your sentence flows smoothly and sticks to proper grammatical rules.
For example, if someone said they wanted to get “an dog,” it would sound awkward because they have incorrectly used “an” before a word that starts with a consonant—dog. Instead, they should say “a dog.”
With these rules in mind, you can now understand why “a year” is correct and “an year” is not. “Y” makes a consonant sound in the word year. so the word “year” should be introduced by the word “a.”
| A | An |
|---|---|
| Use before consonant sounds | Use before vowel sounds |
| Examples: A job, a car, a house | Examples: An earring, an orange, an illness |
Trick to Remembering Which Indefinite Article to Use
As you’re getting the hang of using the correct indefinite article, here are two tips that can help you remember when to use “a” vs “an”:
- Match a consonant end with a vowel beginning, and vice versa. Just think to yourself—opposites attract. “A” ends with a vowel sound, so it should be paired with words that start with consonants. “An” ends with a consonant sound, so it should be paired with words that start with vowels.
- Stay aware of tricky combinations. Some words are a little confusing when it comes to deciding which indefinite article to use. For example, consider the word “university.” It starts with the vowel letter “u,” so you might assume that you should put “an” before it. But in this case, the first letter in “university” is actually spoken with a consonant sound at the beginning—it sounds like “you-niversity.” So, in this case, “a university” is actually the correct option.
Final Thoughts
Next time you’re trying to decide between a year or an year, remember that “a year” is always the correct choice. “A” goes before words that start with a consonant sound, while “an” goes before vowel sounds.
