Pronunciation When a word starts with "a, e, i, o, u,",we should put "an" before the word. But i just found some words are unconventional,like "a university, a useful thing". So, how to deal with it?

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张春来

Pronunciation When a word starts with "a, e, i, o, u,",we should put "an" before the word. But i just found some words are unconventional,like "a university, a useful thing". So, how to deal with it? Please help me.

Jan 20, 2015 1:38 PM

Answers · 10

"U" is different than the other vowels. If it's the long "u that sounds like " you" the an isn't used. So, a university a union. If the "u" sound is short, where it sounds like "uh" I you use it. An upper bed. An unusual thing. The other vowels always use the an.

January 20, 2015

In English, "u" is pronounced as "yew" So, because of the consonant sound, you should use "a university" or "a useful thing"

January 20, 2015

Similarly,some words which DON'T start with a vowel,but where that letter is silent,we would use AN.For example "an hour" because the H is silent.

January 20, 2015

It's a rule from how the words are pronounced, not how they are spelled. We follow the vowel sound instead of the spelling. I think the other members have already given good examples. :)

January 20, 2015

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