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Do you use an OR and before a vowel?
The rule is: Use an before a word beginning with a vowel sound (not letter). It doesn’t matter how the word is spelled. Use a before a word with a consonant sound as well as y and w sounds. Which means it is not unusual to find a before a word starting with a vowel or an before a word starting with a consonant.
When to use a or an before an adjective?
It’s about listening to the words you’re using. The rule for indefinite article usage is as follows: Use a before nouns (or adjectives) that start with a consonant sound. Use an before nouns (or adjectives) that start with a vowel sound.
What is the rule for using a and an?
The indefinite article an is used to make pronunciation easier when reading a text aloud. The general rule is to use a when the indefinite article precedes a word beginning with a consonant sound and an when it precedes a word starting with a vowel sound.
Is it a or an before?
The real rule is this: You use the article “a” before words that start with a consonant sound and “an” before words that start with a vowel sound. The “u” in “unique” makes the “Y” sound—a consonant sound—therefore you use “a” as your article, while the “h” in “hour” sounds like it starts with “ow”—a vowel sound.
What word starts with a vowel but doesn’t use an?
Words beginning with a vowel but don’t use the “an” article (145)
Word | Pronunciation (IPA) |
---|---|
unicorn | /ˈjuːnɪkɔːn/ |
urea | /jʊˈɹiːə/ /ˈjʊəɹɪə/ |
urethra | /jʊˈɹiːθɹə/ |
euphemism | /ˈjuː.fəˌmɪ.z(ə)m/ |
What goes before words that begin with a consonant?
Of course, “a” goes before words that begin with a consonant if they have that consonant sound, just as “an” goes before words that begin with a vowel if they have that vowel sound. In a way, this is a poetic rule, because it’s all about sound.
When do you use a and an in a sentence?
In most cases though, an is used before words that begin with vowels (a, e, i, o u.): If a word starts with a consonant sound, use a. It is very important to know that when a word starts with a vowel sound, you should use an.
When to use ‘a’ and ‘an’ before words?
The real rule is this: You use the article “a” before words that start with a consonant sound and “an” before words that start with a vowel sound. For example, He has a unique point of view on the subject and talked about it for an hour.
How do you know if a word starts with a or an?
If a word starts with a consonant sound, use a. It is very important to know that when a word starts with a vowel sound, you should use an. Sometimes u is pronounced as y. Try saying these two words, see if notice how the u is pronounced in two different ways.