Choose the correct option to complete the sentence. I saw ___ unusual bird and…

Concept

Indefinite articles are chosen by the sound that begins the following word, not merely by its spelling. Use “an” before a vowel sound and “a” before a consonant sound. Use “the” when the noun is already specific or identified.

Application

In “unusual bird,” unusual begins with the vowel sound /ʌ/, so the phrase requires “an.” In “elephant,” elephant begins with the vowel sound /ɛ/, so it also requires “an.”

Contrast

• “a, an” uses the consonant-sound form before “unusual,” although that word starts with a vowel sound.

• “a, the” uses the consonant-sound form before “unusual” and makes “elephant” definite without prior identification.

• “the, a” makes “unusual bird” definite without prior identification and uses the consonant-sound form before “elephant.”

Cross-check

Reading each phrase aloud gives “an unusual bird” and “an elephant”; both transitions begin with vowel sounds.

Result

The completed sentence uses “an, an.”