Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

Mikezster t1_jdwzfdz wrote

There's a common exception to the "An for nouns beginning with vowels, A for nouns beginning with consonants" which is "if the first vowel makes a Y sound, treat is as a consonant."

2

Frootysmothy OP t1_jdwzoas wrote

Ah I see. I was comparing the U sound to the I sound but i should have been comparing it to the Y sound. Thanks! That makes sense

1

NameUnavail t1_jdwzs6p wrote

Because it's pronounced ˈjʊə.ɹəp, the first sound is a soft j not one of the 5 vowels (a,e,i,o,u) and it's only the pronunciation, not the speelling that determines the choice of an/a

1

lukeworldwalker t1_jdwzvvt wrote

The rule is that “a” goes before a word starting with a consonant. And “an" goes before a word starting with a vowel.

BUT the rules follows the phonetic pronunciation NOT the spelling.

some examples with pronunciation in [brackets]

"a" + consonant (both in spelling and pronunciation)

  • a cat [k]
  • a dog [d]
  • a purple onion [p]
  • a buffalo [b]
  • a big apple [b]

"a" + vowel that is pronounced like a consonant

  • a European [ˌjʊɚ...] say: a juropean
  • a one-legged man [ˈwan] say: a won-legged man
  • a union [ˈjuːn.jən] say: a junion)

"an" + vowel (both in spelling and pronunciation)

  • an apricot
  • an egg
  • an orbit
  • an uprising

"an" before consonant that is pronounced like w vowel

  • an honorable person [ˈɒnəɹəbl̩] say: an onorable person)
  • an honest error [ˈɒnɪst] say: an onest error
1

Flair_Helper t1_jdx0bol wrote

Please read this entire message

Your submission has been removed for the following reason(s):

Straightforward or factual queries are not allowed on ELI5. ELI5 is meant for simplifying complex concepts.

If you would like this removal reviewed, please read the detailed rules first. If you believe this submission was removed erroneously, please use this form and we will review your submission.

1

Shabingly t1_jdx17tn wrote

It'll blow your mind when you discover how words like umpire, apron & uncle were originally numpire, napon and nuncle; so a numpire, a napron and a nuncle.

I believe the process of how they became how they are today is called rebracketing.

1

irisblues t1_jdx17u2 wrote

I think you are right. An umbrella is a useful tool. Uh sound vs you sound is what makes the shift.

I say eye-tem, not eee-tem for the word item. But it is still an eyeball or an emotion.

1