Search from various English teachers...
Nate
an knife or a knife?
As I know, the letter K is silent in this word, so in this situation, N is the first letter to be pronounced. Is it correct to use AN to describe it?
Thanks.
Mar 15, 2017 1:47 PM
Answers · 8
4
A knife.
You use 'a' for words that start with a consonant sound. Yes, the 'k' is silent but the following letter, 'n', still has a consonant sound. So you use 'a.' Notice now I say 'consonant sound' and not just consonant. For example you say 'an hour' because the 'h' is silent. And you say things like 'a university' because although it starts with a vowel, it doesn't start with a vowel sound.
March 15, 2017
1
Answer : A knife
Always use "A" just before the sound of a consonant, here the "n" sound at the beginning of "knife"
March 15, 2017
1
Yon should never bring "a" knife to a gun fight.
March 15, 2017
We use "an" article with vowel sounds, in your case knife sounds "nife" which is not a vowel sound so you cannot say a knife
March 16, 2017
Thanks for your comment, Alain!
March 15, 2017
Show more
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Nate
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), English
Learning Language
English
Articles You May Also Like

Same Word, Different Meaning: American, British, and South African English
23 likes · 17 Comments

How to Sound Confident in English (Even When You’re Nervous)
19 likes · 13 Comments

Marketing Vocabulary and Phrases for Business English Learners
16 likes · 6 Comments
More articles
