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a river vs an river

The correct phrase is "a river." The use of the indefinite article "a" before "river" is correct because the word "river" begins with a consonant sound. The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 2429 views

a river

This is correct. The indefinite article "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound.

Use "a river" when referring to a river that starts with a consonant sound. The article "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound.

Examples:

  • I went for a swim in a river near my house.
  • There is a river flowing through the valley.
  • And then she drove her car into a river.
  • Time is a river... and the Turk has walked upstream.
  • Bishop Dutson, his wife and child lying slaughtered by Indians beside a river.
  • I rented an apartment near a river that reminded me of home.
  • There's not supposed to be a river here.
  • Not even to stop them walking into a river.
  • It just flowed like a river.
  • We found your car submerged in a river in Harford County, Maryland.
  • We could maybe go find a river to stand in.
  • My heart is a river in flood.
  • And there's a river, here, underground.
  • Next morning, they found her in a river near campus.
  • You reach a river in the forest.
  • After the rain, it's a river.
  • You go down a river... in tubes.
  • You will drown in a river of blood.
  • One, a stream smaller than a river.
  • Here is a river leading to the Mississippi.
  • There's a river about a half mile down.
  • The Internet's a river of information.

Alternatives:

  • a stream
  • a creek
  • a brook
  • a canal
  • a waterway

an river

This is incorrect. The indefinite article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, not a consonant sound.

Incorrect usage. The correct form is "a river" because the word "river" starts with a consonant sound.
  • I encountered a natural barrier - a sheer cliff, an impassable river.
  • Crickley Hall was built on top of an underground river.
  • We've literally consumed an entire river in North America for irrigation.
  • It's an amazonian river dolphin for sure.
  • Imagine an idyilic river of bacteria.
  • There's an underground river there.
  • You done slid down a razor blade and landed in an alcohol river.
  • Poppea is a stream and you are an impetuous river.
  • No, an underground river under the Opera.
  • 2. The assignment under paragraph 1 of an international river basin or sub-basin or stretches of coastline of an international river basin district, shall be coordinated between the Member States concerned.
  • The assignment under paragraph 1 of an international river basin or sub-basin or stretches of coastline of an international river basin district, shall be coordinated between the Member States concerned.
  • They say there's an enormous river, with water as dark as coal.
  • 3. Where an eel river basin extends beyond the territory of the Community, the competence of any relevant regional fisheries organisation shall be respected.
  • Fairway information for an international river area should be given by one single dissemination point provided with data from the concerned competent authorities.
  • Sonia Gonzalez is an employee of River Road Cleaning.
  • This is an annual melting river.
  • There's an amazing river traveling through it, and you can see there how we manage to get across the river.
  • They were, I guess, drilling or doing whatever and they hit an underground river.
  • Does the well lead to an underground river?
  • an international river basin district, shall be coordinated between the Member States concerned.

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