3.1. When the word begins with a consonant you must use 'a'. If you use words and phrases like "ball", "glass of water" or "cup of coffee", it would be "a ball", "a glass of water" and "a cup of coffee".
3.2. However, with this rule there is an exception. If you're using a word with a mute 'h', like 'honorable' or 'honest' then you have to use 'an'. Therefore, it would be "an honourable man" and "an honest mistake".
4. As long as you follow these methods, it will be easy to know when to use 'a' or 'an' in English.
5. There is a simple way to remember this. When the word starts with a voice (a, e, i, or, u), and you should use 'a' as it sounds better and you hear more appropriate when you say it.
6. Examples
6.1. an hour
6.2. an island
6.3. an ice-cream
6.4. an eye
7. an ugly man
7.1. an ugly man
8. Article AN
8.1. With the words like 'umbrella', 'ice cream' and 'apple' you have to use: "an umbrella", "an ice cream" and "an apple".
8.2. Unfortunately, there are also some exceptions to this rule. When the 'u' has the same sound as the 'y' in 'you', or the 'o' has the same sound as the 'w' in 'won' then you should use 'a'. An example would be "a one-legged man" and "a European trip".
