1. Sandpaper #5
Sandpaper: a, an Prediction: Why do you think that these words are sandpapers?

2. Answer Use a before words beginning with a consonant sound.
Use an before words beginning with a vowel sound.
The SOUND, not the actual letter, that the word begins with determines whether a or an should be used.

3. Examples They are building a hospital near our house.
I would enjoy a donut right now.
I bought a one-way ticket to Hawaii.
(Even though “o” is a vowel, the word one begins with a consonant sound, “w”.)

4. Examples I would like an orange.
It is raining, and I need an umbrella.
We watched T.V. for an hour.
Although “h” is a consonant, the word hour begins with a vowel sound. The “h” is not pronounced.

5. You Try…
I would love to eat __apple;
however, I packed __ pear.