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 • 2602 views

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

"a river "

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.

Show examples from the web [+]

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

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

"an river"

Incorrect usage. The correct form is "a river" because the word "river" starts with a consonant sound.

Show examples from the web [+]

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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a river vs an river

"a river "

"an river"

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