The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

The indefinite article with a member of a class

The indefinite article is used before a noun when it refers to any member of a class of things:

A real friend

is always by your side.

(Real friends are always by your side.)

Quotes:

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. - Chinese proverb

A city is a large community where people are lonesome together. - Herbert Prochnow

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. - John Wooden

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. - Lao Tse

A barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion. - Washington Irving

A man must be master of his hours and days, not their servant. - William Frederick Book

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. - Winston Churchill

Related topics:

The definite article with a whole class