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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Confusion of 'a' and 'an'
English is not my first language.
In school, I learned that we use 'an' before words starting with vowels (a, e, i, o ,u). Now, I'm confused where to use it and where not to use it.
For e.g,
I read/hear, "He's a US citizen". 'U' is a vowel. Shouldn't it be "he's an US citizen"?
I read/hear, "He's an FBI agent". 'F' is not a vowel. Shouldn't it be "he's a FBI agent"?
Another thing,
Which one is correct?
In school, I learnt that we......
or
In school, I learned that we....
In school, I learned that we use 'an' before words starting with vowels (a, e, i, o ,u). Now, I'm confused where to use it and where not to use it.
For e.g,
I read/hear, "He's a US citizen". 'U' is a vowel. Shouldn't it be "he's an US citizen"?
I read/hear, "He's an FBI agent". 'F' is not a vowel. Shouldn't it be "he's a FBI agent"?
Another thing,
Which one is correct?
In school, I learnt that we......
or
In school, I learned that we....
Top answer
Hi, English is not my first language. In school, I learned that we use 'an' before words starting with vowels (a, e, i, o ,u). No, it's before words that start with a vowel sound .
- Hi, English is not my first language.
- In school, I learned that we use 'an' before words starting with vowels (a, e, i, o ,u).
- No, it's before words that start with a vowel sound .
- eg He's a US citizen (sounds like 'you-ess' eg He's an ugly citizen (sounds like 'ug') Now, I'm confused where to use it and where not to use it.
- g, I read/hear, "He's a US citizen".
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3 Answers
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Hi,
English is not my first language.
In school, I learned that we use 'an' before words starting with vowels (a, e, i, o ,u).
No, it's before words that start with a vowel sound.
eg He's a US citizen (sounds like 'you-ess'
English is not my first language.
In school, I learned that we use 'an' before words starting with vowels (a, e, i, o ,u).
No, it's before words that start with a vowel sound.
eg He's a US citizen (sounds like 'you-ess'
00
The "rule" you learned confuses a lot of people. Actually, you need to select "a" or "an" based on the sound of the following word, not on its spelling. "F.B.I." is pronounce "eff bee eye," beginning with the vowel sound "eh," so it's "an F.B.I. agent." "U.S." is pronounced "you ess," beginning with a consonant sound, so it's "a U.S. citizen."
Does that help?
Does that help?
00
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