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AEE 2349: Should You Use the Article or the Number in English?
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choosing a or an is way more common, general, just getting a dog, not the number of dogs.
“one”= that’s a number. Here we are using this more to actually emphsise the number.
If the number doesn’t matter, use “a” or “an”, cause usually we’re talk about a thing, not a number of things, how many things.
1️⃣“I need a coffee” vs “I need one coffee”
“a coffe” is for the scenario that you are rubing your eyes, stretching your arms after you get up, and you’d say I want a coffee. That’s casually and broadly.
“one coffee” is for the scenario that you are giving a list or ordering.
2️⃣“Please send information and an email” vs “Please send informating and one email
“an email” is general
“one email” when there are too many emails for you, and you might be confused, and you’ll say ** Can you send me one email?
3️⃣“a new friend” vs “one new friend”
“a new friend” is general. For here you’re highlighting “friend”.
“one new friend”, the number is important for here, and you’re highlighting the numer.
4️⃣“give me a second” vs “give me one second”
Both of them are ok.
Role play:
A: Do you want me to grab something?
B: Sure, I’ll have Latte.
A: OK, do you want one sugar or two?
B: I’ll just have one sugar.
A: Ok, there is a line.
B: Oh, I only see one person.
A: Oh, no, look over there. There is a long line.
B: Woo, ouch!