when to use a and when to use an
Just a short lesson in the English language as it is used in text (writing). When the following word begins with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u and sometimes y) you should use the word "an" ie. I think I will eat an apple.When the following word begins with a consenant (all the rest of the letters of the alphabet) you should use the word "a" ie. I think I will climb a tree.
The English language is a very difficult one to learn and I applaud all of those who are attempting to use it when it is not the native tongue.
Good luck
Comments (23)
Send this to AN Russian!!!!
English is my second language and
yes, it is a difficult language to learn...
and am still learning, learning, and learning it...
Looks like you've already been at the party Parti
all in fun
I want to learn English language,teach me plz
I think the hardest part of the language is when words have more than one meaning and the nuance that is used will change their meaning as well.
"an" umbrella. Go figure
Seems like they made it up as the went along
When the following word begins with a vowel AND IS PRONOUNCED IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WORD AS A VOWEL!
The most important thing is the pronounciation of the word in the beginning.
I didn't specify that with U I meant when it's pronounced as IU: therefore A Union, but AN Umbrella. On the other hand, I see that it's "a university", "a uniform"... I guess all comes from the fact that U (pronounced IU) is not a basic vowel but combination of two vowels + an effect of palatalization (coming from the I), which give it some "consonant" characteristics, at least that's what I read.
I am not an innate speaker of English and to be frank I have not talked to anybody in English for many years already but I think it is not correct explanation of English articles
John Meehan
9/8/2011 6:46:36 PM
President Obama doesn't use the conventional a or an. Instead he uses "eh" that rhymes with hay solely before vowels and consonants. He does something similar with the definite article when he pronounces it "thuh" before vowels and consonants. He appears to have excised "thee" and "an" from his speech. I wonder if his writers include these unconventional quirks when they prepare his remarks?