2007-03-22 22:23:00 · 10 answers · asked by Shashiz 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
We pronounce hour as OUR and not H-OUR. So the first sound is that of O which is a vowel. Therefore the usual rule of using "an" before vowels applies in this case.
2007-03-22 22:27:30 · answer #1 · answered by Tumblin'Monkey 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Because the "h" in hour is silent, so the first sound you actually utter is the vowel sound "a".
2007-03-22 22:27:34 · answer #2 · answered by charmedchiclet 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
While pronouncing it, the 'h' is silent in hour, and 'o' is a vowel, so we say 'an' hour.
2007-03-22 22:28:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because we don't pronounce the h.
Also note how some words beginning with u have an,
an umbrella, an umbical cord
But if we say 'yu' we use a
a university, a unicorn
2007-03-22 22:29:06 · answer #4 · answered by wizard bob 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the 'h' is silent is the British pronounciations of most 'h' words, and as such it makes speech flow more easily to use 'an' instead of 'a'.
American use is just a holdover of this custom.
2007-03-22 22:27:45 · answer #5 · answered by mischavee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what determines whether we use 'a' or 'an' not only has to do with the letter it preceeds, but also how it is pronounced.
IE: you wouldn't say, " Sally had a S.A.T score of 1600."
You would say, "Sall had an S.A.T. score of 1600."
Got it?
2007-03-22 22:28:17 · answer #6 · answered by L K 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's the sound that follows a or an that is important, not the letter.
2007-03-22 22:30:12 · answer #7 · answered by Bethany 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say AN hour, b/c that IS the proper English!
2007-03-22 22:26:32 · answer #8 · answered by penwrite5 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because is sounds better.
2007-03-22 22:30:32 · answer #9 · answered by Bryan _ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try to say ''a'' hour...it sounds a bbit weird compared to ''an'' hour
2007-03-24 03:52:46 · answer #10 · answered by piper 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋