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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Indefinite article a

When do you pronounce this as a long a or a short a?
  

Top answer

This is the first time I've heard any reference to "long" vs "short" vowels since I joined EF three years ago! " He picked up uh ball. "

— Avangi

  • This is the first time I've heard any reference to "long" vs "short" vowels since I joined EF three years ago!
  • " He picked up uh ball.
  • "
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4 Answers
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This is the first time I've heard any reference to "long" vs "short" vowels since I joined EF three years ago!

I'm not having much luck waking up my brain, but I'd say that as an article, it's never pronounced as a long "a," as in "hate," nor is it pronounced as a short "a," as in "hat."
It's pronounced as an "uh," as in "hug." He picked up uh ball.

The defini
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You pronounce it long a if you are a rather slow-witted child just learning to read or if you are Jim Lehrer reading the news on PBS's News Hour. Otherwise, you pronounce it like the u in but.

CJ
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You also use the long a if you want to emphasize that you want one, and only one.

Would you like some cookies?
Thanks. I'm trying to watch my weight, but I just can't resist entirely, so I'd like A cookie.
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