An vs. A with certain vowel-sounding consonants?

[nq:1]I was taught from an early age that when there is a consonant, regardless of phonics, one uses "a". If ... of ten yo without using that dreaded-of-dreaded clichés, "Because: That's simply the way it is."? Many humbled thanks, The Ranger[/nq]
A MP4 is wrong. MP4 is pronounced EM PEE Four.
An Emily Dickinson poem.........
An MP4........
JOE

[nq:1]I was taught from an early age that when there is a consonant, regardless of phonics, one uses "a". If there is a vowel, one uses "an" before. This often flies in the face of the sound "a MP4," or "a NEWT".[/nq]
No, sir. It's "an" before a vowel sound (an MP3) and "a" before a consonant sound (a European).
(What've newts got to do with it?)
Adrian

[nq:2]I was taught from an early age that when there ... simply the way it is."? Many humbled thanks, The Ranger[/nq]
[nq:1]A MP4 is wrong. MP4 is pronounced EM PEE Four. An Emily Dickinson poem.. An MP4.. JOE[/nq]
An' an FBI agent... an honest one at that...
DC

[nq:1]I was taught from an early age that when there is a consonant, regardless of phonics, one uses "a". If there is a vowel, one uses "an" before. This often flies in the face of the sound "a MP4," or "a NEWT".[/nq]
Were you? I'm guessing you're in the US, is that what's commonly taught to kids there? We were told (I'm a Brit), yes, put 'an' in front of letters, AEIOU, but I don't think the

Being unwrong all the time is just unpossible, I find!

[nq:1]I was taught from an early age that when there is a consonant, regardless of phonics, one uses "a". If ... present this to a group of ten yo without using that dreaded-of-dreaded clichés, "Because: That's simply the way it is."?[/nq]
You were taught wrong.
It is before a vowel /sound/ that "an" is used, not indiscriminately before vowels.
Remember that the written language is sim

[nq:2]Well, that's what I had to say to a group ... language, you know, I just have to teach it..." DC[/nq]
[nq:1]Being unwrong all the time is just unpossible, I find![/nq]
What good opportunity for prescriptive language codification is lost here, because English grammar follows usage, and not vice versa! In the Utopian universe where usage is prescribed, we could codify the "im-" and "un

[nq:2]I was taught from an early age that when there ... the face of the sound "a MP4," or "a NEWT".[/nq]
[nq:1]No, sir. It's "an" before a vowel sound (an MP3) and "a" before a consonant sound (a European). (What've newts got to do with it?)[/nq]
Have I got newts for you?
DC

Django Cat (Email Removed) shamelessly punned message
[nq:1]Have I got newts for you?[/nq]
D'oh!
"A pun is a pistol discharged in one's ear."
The Ranger

Hermione looked repulsed. "November? How are
we going to be ready for our NEWTs?"
the character Hermione Granger of Harry Potter infamy.

[nq:2]No, sir. It's "an" before a vowel sound (an MP3) and "a" before a =consonant sound (a European). (What've newts got to do with it?)[/nq]
[nq:1]Have I got newts for you?[/nq]
The Conservatives probably need a newt lover to run against Red Ken Livingston for mayor of London. Have you given any thought to a new career?
=20
Robin Bignall
Herts, England=20