Why do people say "in AN hour" the letter 'h' isn't a vowel so why should you say AN ?

Answer 1

The word "an" is used because the word has a vowel sound at the beginning, even though the beginning letter isn't actually a vowel. This is to prevent two vowel sounds from being used without an intervening consonant, which is awkward to pronounce.

Answer 2

The answer is found in how you worded the question -- you asked about what people SAY, that is, how words are SPOKEN, not how they are written. The writing follows speech.

The problem is that you were taught the rule incorrectly, or at last unclearly. "An' is not used, first of all, because it makes the words easier to pronounce -- "an apple" is much easier to say that "a apple". So the rule is based on SOUND, not writing.

The rule then is NOT that you use "an" before a vowel, if by that you mean vowel-LETTER (writing); it is that you use it before a vowel SOUND (speaking).

Since the first sound in words like hour and honest is a vowel sound (the h is silent), you use "an".

The flip-side of the rule is that when the word after a/an begins with a consonant-SOUND (not alway letter), it take "a". There are some words that begin with vowel-letters, but whose first SOUND is that of a consonant.

This applies to a set of words beginning with "u" or "eu". For instance, "ukelele" is pronounced as "yoo-" at the beginning. The "y-" is a consonant sound, so you say "a ukelele". Likewise with "a European".

Answer 3

The rule is if it starts with a vowel sound not an actual vowel. other words may also apply to the rule but I cannot think of any

Answer 4

You have to use A or AN depending on the sound of the first word.

For example:

Helicopter -> This word has a consonant sound

Hour -> This word has a vowel sound

Answer 5

Because the "H" is silent, the sound you here is a vowel sound, which in turn makes the preceding article "AN" instead of "A".

Answer 6

When something is a vowel or *sounds* like a vowel when pronounced, it is preceded by "an" instead of "a".

Answer 7

the 'h' is silent and it is pronounced 'our' which starts with a vowel which is the reason we say "in an hour."

Answer 8

Because the H is silent and then it is follwed by two vowels

Answer 9

actually the letter "H" HAS TWO SOUNDS. AITCH AND HATCH. SO THAT'SWHY WE SAY AN HOUR, AN HONEST MAN. A HAT , A HORSE. TAKE CARE

Answer 10

'h' is just one of those anomalies in the english language...yes you would say an hour...but you wouldn't say an hotel.....I guess it depends on whether or not the h is really silent.