The Grammar Guide Articles Should I use "a" before plural nouns?

Should I use "a" before plural nouns?

Should I use "a" before plural nouns?

A and an are indefinite articles that are used to identify nouns. They are non-specific and can refer to any member of a group.

Here are some examples:

  • My sister is buying a car.
  • My brother went out to buy an apple.

A and an can only be used with singular nouns. You shouldn't use them with plural nouns.

If you are using a plural noun, you will either need to change the article to 'the' or specify the number of items:

  • I bought the magazines.
  • I bought two magazines.