Language: grammar and vocabulary
Determiners
Choose the determiner that fits the noun — a or an, this or these, much or many, some or any.
A determiner is the small word that goes in front of a noun and settles which one, or how many. A, an, the, this, these, some, any, much and many are all determiners. English almost never lets a singular noun stand bare, so choosing the right one matters in every sentence you write.
A or an — go by sound
Use an before a vowel sound, a before a consonant sound. It is the sound that decides, not the letter: an hour, but a university.
Much or many — can you count it?
Many for things you can count one by one: many chairs. Much for things you measure instead: much water. Rice, water, advice and information are all uncountable in English.
Worked example
Choose the determiner: "How ____ advice did she give you?"
Ask whether you can count the noun. Can you say "one advice, two advices"?
If the plural sounds wrong, the noun is uncountable.
Try it together
Choose the determiner for each gap.
Three gaps, and a different reason behind each choice.
1."____ hour later, the bus arrived." Write a or an.
Have a go
Which sentence is correct?
Ready to practise?
Eight questions on what you have just read. Nothing is timed, and you can play as many times as you like.