41 Sentences With An: How To Use It Naturally!

Is it a university or an university? Find out this and more with today’s 41 fun sentences with an, written in natural, native English. We will look at an use, and also plenty of real-life examples so you can see just how to use it!

An in a sentence — An used in a sentence

Sentences with an

Here are the first 10 of our sentences with an. To get familiar with them, it is a good idea to read and repeat them until you are comfortable with the structure.

An unexpected snowstorm hit our town last night.
Donna started an art class at the community center.
Trevor saved up enough money for an electric guitar.
There’s an ostrich farm on the way to the city.
We enjoyed an Italian meal at the new restaurant.
Ava has an interview for a part-time job tomorrow. She is a bit nervous!
I’m reading an intriguing mystery novel right now.
They adopted an adorable kitten from the shelter.
He’s looking for an affordable apartment in the downtown area.
We need an umbrella because the forecast is telling us it’s going to rain.

An use

What is the rule for the use of an? Let’s look at just how to use the indefinite article an:

“An” is a word we use before singular nouns when the first sound of the noun is a vowel sound. This means the word starts with a sound like “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” or “u.” It’s important to listen to the sound, not just look at the letter because sometimes words start with a vowel letter but don’t sound like it.

Here are a few examples of using “an”:

An apple fell from the tree.
She is an engineer.
He found an old coin in the garden.
I saw an umbrella in the store window.
Can you give me an example?

All the nouns after “an” here start with a vowel sound. That’s why we use “an” instead of “a.”

Sentences with an: part 2

Here are the second lot of sentences with an – keep reading and repeating, you’re doing well!

Mrs. Jansen found an antique vase at the garage sale, and it is worth quite a lot!
Can you lend me an eraser, please? I made a mistake!
On her birthday, Becky got an original painting from her friend. She was made up about it!
He practiced playing an old song on his piano for hours.
They went to see an action movie last night.
Mia recommended an effective remedy for my cold – it really worked!
The meeting lasted almost an hour longer than scheduled. I was sleepy after it!
I didn’t get enough sleep and now I need an afternoon nap.
For their anniversary, they booked a table at an upscale restaurant.
An eggplant should be firm for it to be fresh.

Sentences using an

Here is the final set of sentences using an:

Shopping for groceries online is an increasing trend.
They made an elaborate plan for their holiday in Greece.
Mary’s favorite book is an autobiography of a famous actress.
She took an early lead in the tennis match.
Life is an unpredictable journey full of surprises!
He binge-watched an entire season of the show in one day. He’s shattered now!
She practiced for an hour each day to improve her English grammar skills.
He received an electric drill as a housewarming gift.
Saying thank you is an important aspect of good manners.
An exercise routine in the morning helps Keith stay energized.

An questions

Here are 5 an questions – use them for conversation practice. Try to make your own answers, too!

Do you have an orange?
Can anyone recommend an interesting book to read?
Is there an easy way to learn a new language?
What’s an efficient method to organize daily tasks?
Have you ever attended an event that changed your life?
Where’s an interesting place you’ve visited?

Sentences with an: FAQs

Now that we have looked at so many sentences with an, let’s now turn our attention so some more general questions about his important word, to firm up our knowledge:

How do you know when to use an or and?

The word “and” is a conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses, indicating addition or combination. For instance, “I like apples and bananas.” In contrast, “an” is an indefinite article used before singular nouns that begin with a vowel sound, such as “an apple” or “an elephant.” The choice between “an” or “and” depends on whether you’re linking terms together or referring to a singular noun with a vowel sound.

Situation	An use	And use
Before singular nouns beginning with a vowel sound	An apple was on the table.	N/A
Linking words, phrases, or clauses	N/A	Apples and oranges are in the basket.
Before singular nouns beginning with a consonant sound	A university is a place for higher education.	N/A
When listing multiple items or ideas	N/A	He likes hiking, swimming, and cycling.

Is it a university or an university?

The phrase you should use is “a university.” Even though “university” starts with a vowel, ‘u’, it sounds like ‘yoo’, a consonant sound. Hence, based on the sound, not the letter, “a” is the proper article to use, as in “She enrolled in a university abroad for higher studies.”

Is it an umbrella or a umbrella?

The correct phrase is “an umbrella” because the word “umbrella” starts with a vowel sound (uhm-brel-uh). The indefinite article “an” is used before vowel sounds, thus, “an umbrella” is the correct form, as in “I brought an umbrella because the

Is it correct to say an hotel?

The phrase “an hotel” is not commonly used because the ‘h’ in “hotel” is pronounced, making it “a hotel.” Although some dialects or accents may drop the ‘h’, standard English includes it, leading to the proper phrase being “She booked a hotel for her vacation.” Use “an” before silent ‘h’ or when the ‘h’ isn’t pronounced in the accent of the speaker. (looks like “an Otel!”)

Sentences with an: know when to use it!

I hope you have enjoyed reading through all of today’s sentences with an! If you are still unsure, here is why you need to use “an” when you are speaking or writing:

When to Use “An”	Why to Use “An”
Before singular nouns beginning with a vowel sound	“An” is used because it sounds more natural and is easier to pronounce before a noun with an initial vowel sound. Examples: “an apple,” “an elephant.”
When the first letter of an acronym or initialism is a vowel sound	Even if the acronym is written with consonants, if it’s pronounced with a starting vowel sound, use “an.” Example: “an FBI agent” (eff-bee-eye).
Before certain words with a silent ‘h’ where the initial sound is a vowel	This is only in specific dialects or accents where the ‘h’ is not pronounced. Example: “an honest mistake” (h is silent).
When following a word that ends with a vowel sound	“An” can be used to smooth the transition between words when the previous word ends with a vowel sound. Example: “I need an umbrella.”