A - an

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A - an
Message from emani posted on 14-06-2009 at 02:43:21 (D | E | F)
hi
i need u to give me rule to use an or a with words ...
for example we need use an with words bigning with e / u / i or with the whole words which biggning with vowel letters ??

thanx

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Re: A - an from novotny, posted on 14-06-2009 at 03:39:59 (D | E)
the whole word which beginning with vowel letters
Do you mean :we use the article 'an' before all the words beginning with a vowel ?

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Edited by lucile83 le 14-06-2009 07:31

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Re: A - an from TravisKidd, posted on 14-06-2009 at 04:47:49 (D | E)
Use "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound: a bird, a pig, a grey elephant

Note that consonants include semivowels as well as H: a yard, a worm, a rat, a house

Note also that words can begin with a consonant sound even though their first letter is a vowel: a university, a one-year-old

Use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound: an orange, an umpire, an interesting problem

Also, when pronouncing the name of a letter, use "an" before ones whose names begin with a vowel sound: an A, an L, an S (but a U)

Note that some words begin with an unpronounced H, and therefore begin with a vowel sound: an hour, an honest man

Also, some words begin with an H on an unstressed syllable; in this case the pronounciation of H is (often, depending on the previous word) optional; in this case "an" may be used with an unpronounced H: a(n) hallucination, a(n) historic moment

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