Fill in the blank with the correct option:
John is __________ M.A. in English
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → an
Complete sentence: John is an M.A. in English. M.A. is read letter by letter, "em-ay". The letter M is pronounced with a vowel sound /e/ at the start. So it takes an.
| Option | When to use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) an (answer) | The choice between a and an depends on the first sound, not the first letter. | She is an MBA from a well-known institute. |
| (2) a | A goes before a consonant sound. "M.A." begins with the vowel sound of "em". | – |
| (3) the | John is one of many holders of this degree, so the definite the does not fit. | – |
| (4) None | A degree used as a countable noun for the person holding it needs an article: "John is an M.A." | – |
Contrast: the first sound, not the first letter, decides: an M.A., because "em" begins with a vowel sound. A (Option 2) goes only before a consonant sound.