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Is it right to write " a unique" instead of an unique? Thanks in advance 😊
Apr 10, 2022 8:04 PM
Answers · 18
3
If the question is about whether to use "a" or "an", the reason why you would use "a" before "unique" is because it starts with a consonant sound- what might be called a "y" sound or represented by the phonetic symbol /j/. It's not whether the first letter is a vowel or a consonant that governs whether to use "a" or "an", it's whether the first sound is a vowel or consonant sound.
But I would also point out that "unique" is an adjective, not a noun. So you need to say or write "a unique" something: a unique point of view, a unique history, etc.
April 10, 2022
2
"a unique" is correct, as is "a university", "a unicorn", "a ubiquitous material", etc. Even though "u" is a vowel, these "u" words start with a "y" sound, so you stick with the article "a" for pronunciation reasons.
April 10, 2022
2
The rule for "a" or "an" is a phonetic rule, not an orthographic rule.
The rule is that the indefinite article "a" is used before a singular countable noun such as "cat" (or before the modifiers for a singulary countable noun such as "large black cat") and becomes "an" when the following word begins with a vowel sound.
an apple
a red apple
a banana
an old banana
"a" become "an" when the following word begins with a vowel sound due to a silent "h."
an hour
an hourly wage
a hat [not pronounced with a silent "h"]
a hotel / an 'otel [depends on the age and region of the speaker]
"a" is used before words that start with "u" and "eu" when they are pronounced with an initial "y."
a university [pronounced "yuniversity"]
a universal truth [pronounced "yuniversal"]
an ugly dog [pronounced "ugly dog"]
a European language [pronounced yuropean]
More information:
https://grammar.collinsdictionary.com/easy-learning/the-indefinite-article
[excerpt]
They joined a historical society.
They joined an historical society. (old-fashioned English)
They were staying at a hotel.
They were staying at an hotel. (old-fashioned English)
April 10, 2022
It’s all about (sounds) not letters
So, since the adjective Unique begins with the letter (u) which is a vowel, but it’s pronounced as (yoo) which is a consonant sound, then we use the determiner( a) not (an)
Hope you got it🙏🏻
April 11, 2022
despite the rule....most people say and write "a" unique....
April 10, 2022
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Arabic, English, Japanese, Korean
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