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Tiulpan
An elephant, A European, An umbrella, A useful ... and something else like it?
An elephant
A European
An umbrella
A useful ...
I would like to know which one should I write "A European" or "An European". I learned that normally we use "an" in front of a word beginning with a vowel. So based on this knowledge, I wrote "An European" in a paper, but someone told me that I should have wrote "A European".
I am all confused now. Hope anyone can help me. Does someone know any example of this rare case?
8 apr. 2011 12:26
Antwoorden · 8
2
The use of a/an depends entirely on spoken English, not written English. If you pronounce a word (ie. a noun or adjective) with an open vowel, then use "an".
...a European, a university, a euphemism... (all begin with a 'y' sound)
BUT: an hour, an heir, an 'M', an 80th...
8 april 2011
2
although "European" is spelt with a vowel (E), phonetically speaking, the word starts with a semivowel /j/, as in "You" /ju:/. Words that start with a semivowel are preceded by the article "a".
8 april 2011
2
The usage of 'a' and 'an' is determined by the pronunciation and not by the spelling, as many people think.
You should say, therefore, “an hour” (because hour begins with a vowel sound) and “a history” (because history begins with a consonant sound).
Similarly you should say “a European” even if Euroean begins with a “u.” That is because the pronunciation begins with “yu”, which is a consonant sound.
8 april 2011
2
When there is sound of vowel always use an. But sound of a,e,i ,o and u must be a like apple, e in elephant, u in umbrella etc. In these four words;
With European- a european as sound came first is u as in you..
With Elephant- an elephant as sound came first is aa as the sound came of e
With Umbrella- An umbrella as sound came first is a as the sound came of u
With useful- a useful as the sound came first is u as in you.
8 april 2011
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Tiulpan
Taalvaardigheden
Chinees (Mandarijn), Engels, Duits, Japans, Russisch, Spaans
Taal die wordt geleerd
Chinees (Mandarijn), Duits, Japans
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