The indefinite article a is used when the word following begins with a consonant (i.e. a letter of the alphabet other than a vowel) or a consonant sound. An is used when the following word begins with a vowel (i.e. the letters a, e, i, o, u). The form of the indefinite article fluctuates, however, before some words beginning with h, depending upon the pronunciation of the h; this includes the aspirated h (with an audible h-sound), and the y- and w-sound heard in union and one.
Some words are spelled with an initial vowel, but pronounced as a consonant: a European fossil, a euphemism, etc. Conversely, words spelled with an initial consonant, but pronounced with a vowel, take an: an MP.
The article an is used for a before vowels and before an unaspirated h:
2005-11-21 |