a

noun I

A [eɪ]

1) [C/U] the first letter of the English alphabet

2) A

[C/U] a mark that a teacher gives to a student's work to show that it is excellent

3) A

[U] a common BLOOD GROUP

•

from A to B — from one place to another[/ex]

A to Z — British a book of maps showing all the roads in a particular town[/ex]

II

determiner

a */*/*/weak [ə] ; strong [eɪ]; an weak [ən] ; strong [æn] summary: A and an are indefinite articles. ■ A is used when the next word begins with a consonant. ■ An is used when the next word begins with a vowel sound.

1) used when you are mentioning a person or a thing for the first time

I have an idea.[/ex]

There's a concert on Sunday night.[/ex]

2) one

I have a sister and two brothers.[/ex]

a hundred/thousand/million[/ex]

3) used when you mean any person or thing of a particular type, but not a specific one

Have you got a car?[/ex]

Children must be accompanied by an adult.[/ex]

4) used when you say what job someone does

Ruth was a lawyer.[/ex]

I want to be an actor.[/ex]

5) used when you say what type someone or something belongs to

Maria is a Catholic.[/ex]

Greece has been a republic since 1973.[/ex]

6) used before a singular noun that represents every person or thing of a particular type

A dog needs regular exercise.[/ex]

A molecule consists of two or more atoms.[/ex]

7) used in phrases showing prices, rates, or speeds to mean ‘each' or ‘every'

Meetings are held four times a year (= four times every year).[/ex]

Tomatoes are £1.20 a kilo (= each kilo costs £1.20).[/ex]

90 miles an hour[/ex]

8) used in expressions of quantity such as ‘a lot', ‘a few', or ‘a great deal'

a lot of money[/ex]

a bit of luck[/ex]

We all appreciate a little encouragement.[/ex]

9) used before a noun that is formed from a verb and means a single action of that verb

Can I have a try?[/ex]

Let's take a walk round the garden.[/ex]