A

Pronunciation: /eɪ/

Definitions of a

article used before a singular noun to indicate that the noun is not specific

Example Sentences

A1 I have a cat.

A2 She bought a new dress.

B1 He is going to buy a car next month.

B2 I need to book a hotel for our trip.

C1 She is a renowned scientist in her field.

C2 He was awarded a Nobel Prize for his contributions to literature.

Examples of a in a Sentence

formal I need to buy a new laptop for work.

informal I'm going to grab a coffee before heading to class.

slang Let's catch a flick at the movies tonight.

figurative She has a heart of gold.

Grammatical Forms of a

• past tense: was
• plural: are
• comparative: more
• superlative: most
• present tense: is
• future tense: will be
• perfect tense: has been
• continuous tense: is being
• singular: one
• positive degree: good
• infinitive: to be
• gerund: being
• participle: being

Origin and Evolution of a

First Known Use: 0800 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'a' originated from the Old English word 'an', which meant 'one' or 'alone'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'a' evolved to become the indefinite article in English, used before nouns to indicate that the noun is not specific or known. It is now an essential part of English grammar and syntax.