English Grammar
Vowels and Consonants for Kids: A E I O U, and When to Use a or an
2026-11-10 · 3 min read
Vowels and Consonants for Kids: A E I O U, and When to Use a or an
Almost every English word needs one of five special letters. Can you guess them? In this lesson, children learn the 5 vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and the 21 consonants, find the vowel inside words like cat, pen, dog and sun, and learn when to use "a" and "an". They spot mistakes, play Vowel Detective with a storybook, and finish with a 5-question quiz.
1. Two Groups of Letters
- The alphabet has 26 letters.
- 5 letters are vowels: A E I O U
- The other 21 letters are consonants: B, C, D, F, G…
- 5 vowels + 21 consonants = 26 letters
2. The Five Vowels
- A – ant
- E – egg
- I – igloo
- O – owl
- U – umbrella
3. Find the Vowels in A to Z
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
4. Vowels Inside Words
| Word | Vowel | Consonants |
|---|---|---|
| cat | a | c, t |
| pen | e | p, n |
| dog | o | d, g |
| sun | u | s, n |
Most words have at least one vowel.
5. Vowels Help Us Choose: a or an
- Use an before a word that begins with a vowel sound: an apple, an egg
- Use a before a word that begins with a consonant sound: a ball, a cat
- an owl, an umbrella, a dog
6. Spot the Mistake
- ❌ I ate a apple. → ✅ I ate an apple.
- ❌ B is a vowel. → ✅ B is a consonant.
7. Your Turn
Ask your child these questions. Answers are in brackets.
- Is E a vowel or a consonant? (vowel)
- Is M a vowel or a consonant? (consonant)
- Find the vowel in bus. (u)
- ___ owl or ___ owl? (a / an) (an owl)
8. Activity: Vowel Detective
You need: a storybook, a red pencil, a notebook.
- Copy 5 short words from your storybook.
- Circle every vowel in red.
- Count the vowels in each word.
- Which word has the most vowels?
9. Quick Recap
- There are 5 vowels: A, E, I, O, U.
- The other 21 letters are consonants.
- Most words have at least one vowel.
- Use an before a vowel sound: an apple.
- Use a before a consonant sound: a ball.
Free Worksheet
Download and print the worksheet (answer key included):
Vowels and Consonants worksheet (PDF) →
Take the Online Test
22 questions with instant answers and explanations:
Start the Vowels and Consonants online test →
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Vowels and Consonants for Kids: A E I O U, and When to Use a or an — FAQs
What are the 5 vowels in English?
The five vowels are A, E, I, O and U. All the other 21 letters of the alphabet are consonants.
How many consonants are there?
There are 21 consonants. The alphabet has 26 letters, and 26 minus the 5 vowels leaves 21 consonants.
When do we use "an" instead of "a"?
Use "an" before a word that begins with a vowel sound (an apple, an egg, an owl) and "a" before a word that begins with a consonant sound (a ball, a cat, a dog).
Does every word have a vowel?
Almost every English word has at least one vowel letter. A few short words like "sky" and "my" use the letter y to make the vowel sound instead.