English Word Traps.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin on June 21, 2009 at 7:51pm

Hi Merlin, the rule says to use "an" with vowels and "a" with consonants, but "a hour" doesn't sound correct because "h" is silent. Maybe somebody else knows the better reason.

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Permalink Reply by Kasia Ratajczyk on June 22, 2009 at 10:29am

hi! you use 'an' before vowel SOUNDS and 'a' before consonant SOUNDS (not just vowels or consonants).
In the word 'hour' the first sound you hear in 'a' that's why you say 'an hour'. In 'unique' the first sound you hear is 'j' not 'u'. so you have to say 'a unique grammar rule' :o)

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Permalink Reply by angel Hudepohl on June 22, 2009 at 2:22pm

Hi Merlin,

Kevin and Kasia are both right BUT... English is a tricky language so there is more ;-)!

I tell my English students that it simplifies matters if they pay attention to the SOUND of the first letter of the word (vowel or consonant) ... then the rule is: "use ‘an’ before a vowel (SOUND)". Take particular care with acronyms beginning with a consonant: eg 'SOS' is pronounced 'es-oh-es' ; the first sound is a vowel sound so we write 'an' SOS.

Here are some other examples (remember: listen to the first sound of the word to establish if it is a vowel sound):
- an experience
- a unique experience (The first letter in the word 'unique' sounds like "you/yuh".)
- an umbrella
- a house (The letter "H" is pronounced in the word house.)
- an ugly house
- an hour (The letter "H" is not pronounced at all in the word hour.)
- a half an hour (The letter "H" is pronounced in the word half.)
- a submarine
- an SOS ("SOS" is pronounced "es-oh-es", so the first sound is a vowel sound.)
- a bandit
- a one-armed bandit (The word 'one' is pronounced the same as won.)

As acronyms are widely used these days this rule can be very helpful. ... you should use “a NATO authority” (because “NATO” begins with a “ne” sound) BUT “an NBC reporter (because “NBC” is pronounced “enbisi”).

Do you get the idea, Merlin? Once my students understand this, the confusion disappears :-)

Good luck ... :-)

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Permalink Reply by Jenny McKellar on June 22, 2009 at 2:23pm

I concur. English is all about exceptions to the rules!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Nadin on June 23, 2009 at 2:51pm

Hi-hi! More Russian-speaking friends here!!!

Agree with all the explanations above. Just 2 more remarks. To see if the word begins with a vowel sound or consonant sound you may look at its transcription( phonetical presentation of a word which stands immediately after the word in dictionaries. I am sure at school you heard something about that). And actually "an" is used for a smoother speech flow. If you try to say "a hour"( two vowel sounds in a row) it feels like stumbling. "An hour" is much easier and more comfortable to pronounce. For the same reason "an" is not used before a consonant sound.

More qiestions - just ask.

Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by merlin on June 24, 2009 at 12:48pm

Wow, great that I got many answers, thank you. I have one more question: what is correct to say: "I am looking forward to see you" or "I am looking forward to seeing you"?

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Permalink Reply by Kasia Ratajczyk on June 24, 2009 at 1:29pm

I'd say - looking forward to seeing you.

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Permalink Reply by angel Hudepohl on June 24, 2009 at 1:50pm

Hey Merlin ... did you find the info posted helpful :-)?

In regards to this question: either "I am looking forward to seeing you" or "I look forward to seeing you" is preferable to "I am looking forward to see you".

But why is it so? I think it's because the "seeing" is a thing that we are looking forward to - we treat it as a noun and want to use the gerund ("-ing") form. Any other ideas?

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Permalink Reply by merlin on June 25, 2009 at 2:02pm

It's very useful, Angel and I didn't expect to receive many answers. If I can still ask what is a better way to say: a few books or few books? I know that a few books is correct though I don't understand why "a" is used.

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Permalink Reply by Nadin on June 25, 2009 at 2:42pm

Hi!

Actually you may use both "a few" and "few" depending on what you want to say. "A few " and "few" have different meanings. "A few" has the meaning of "several, not many" and "few" means "almost none". The same difference is between little and a little for uncountable nouns.

Unfortunately, I can't explain why "a" is used. Never questioned it myself.

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Permalink Reply by Arnold on June 29, 2009 at 7:55pm

Can I also ask the question? How to use I/ me/ myself.
I have received an email: "please send it back to John and myself".
Should it be "send it to John and me"?
What about this sentence: "this is for you and I"
or
"this is for you and me"
or
"this is for you and myself"
I will really appreciate your answer!

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Permalink Reply by Paula on July 1, 2009 at 5:58pm

Interesting problem, I found on internet that using "myself" instead of "me" is archaic English. Is it true?

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