Select the most appropriate options to fill in the blanks.

He waited for half _______ hour and then left without ______ word.

The correct answer is 'an; a'.

 Key Points

• 'Hour' starts with a vowel sound, so the correct indefinite article to use before it is 'an'.
• The use of 'a' before 'word' is correct because 'word' begins with a consonant sound, and the sentence is referring to an unspecified singular instance of a word.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

Important Points Let's learn the use of the given article:

• A:
  • Used before singular countable nouns that begin with a consonant sound.
  • Indicates that the noun is non-specific or one of many.
    • Example: I saw a dog in the park.
• An:
  • Used before singular countable nouns that begin with a vowel sound.
    • Example: I ate an apple for breakfast.
• The:
  • Known as the definite article, "the" is used when you're referring to a specific item or items.
  • Can be used with singular or plural nouns.
  • Examples:
    • The book on the table is mine. (specific book)
    • The dogs in the park are playing. (specific dogs)