A

history

a

an was the Old English word for "one". <p>Like an, a has developed as the sounds dropped away from the cardinal number one. (phonological evolution)

syntax

• a is used before a consonant sound (a quarter note, a half note, a whole note, a holy otter)
• an is used before a vowel sound (an 8th note, an old note, an utter silence, another sound )

• a lot = beaucoup, a lot of = beaucoup de
• A funny article: Alot is better than you at everything