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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
An versus A
I understand the usage of AN before a vowel unless the vowel makes the long sound. Does that apply to urinalysis; i.e., "The doctor ordered a urinalysis," or would it be, "The doctor orderd an urinalysis." I think it is just "a urinalysis," since the U in urinalysis does not make the short vowel sound. Thanks for any help.
Top answer
Probably you know what you mean, but I'm not sure that "long sound" and "short sound" is a very good way of thinking of it. "urinalysis" (like "urine") begins with a "yoo" sound. It is the "y" in this that causes this noun to take "a" rather than "an".
- Probably you know what you mean, but I'm not sure that "long sound" and "short sound" is a very good way of thinking of it.
- "urinalysis" (like "urine") begins with a "yoo" sound.
- It is the "y" in this that causes this noun to take "a" rather than "an".
- Contrast "an uncle", where "uncle" begins with a pure vowel sound (no "y"), and so takes "an".
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1 Answers
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Probably you know what you mean, but I'm not sure that "long sound" and "short sound" is a very good way of thinking of it.
"urinalysis" (like "urine") begins with a "yoo" sound. It is the "y" in this that causes this noun to take "a" rather than "an". Contrast "an uncle", where "uncle" begins with a pure vowel sound (no "y"), and so takes "an".
"urinalysis" (like "urine") begins with a "yoo" sound. It is the "y" in this that causes this noun to take "a" rather than "an". Contrast "an uncle", where "uncle" begins with a pure vowel sound (no "y"), and so takes "an".
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