Does a word beginning with a vowel always need an in front of it?

Question

I think I remember someone telling me that a word starting with a vowel only needs an if the vowel sounds like a vowel, but I couldn't think nof any word like that. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Yes, if it begins with a vowel sound. So most words beginning with vowels have "an" rather than "a" before them, but many words beginning with "eu" actually begin with the consonant Y sound and have just "a" before them. Ex.: a European language, a eucalyptus drop. On the other hand, words beginning with a silent consonant (usually H, but someone may find an exception) have "an" before them. Ex.: an honorable man. And sometimes words beginning with an aspirated (pronounced) H have "an" before them if the accent isn't on the first syllable. Ex.: an historic event. (I wouldn't worry much about this last instance.)

Answer 2

The general rule has everything to do with the flow of uttered speech, which carries over into writing. Two separated but consecutive vowels are simply awkward to say. Unicorn and uniform given in the excellent answer above, are exceptions because the words are said as if they started with "y", so no awkwardness occurs.

Answer 3

First of all, you only need "an" if you need an indefinite article in front of the word, i.e., as a replacement for "a." Many times, you don't need an article at all, as in: "Do you like applesauce?"

Then, as others have said, it's the sound, not the letter, which controls. A "u" or "eu" sounded as "y" doesn't need "an." For examples with "eu", "a euphemism," or "a eucharistic celebration."

Sometimes "an" is required when the first letter is a silent consonant, such as "an hour."

Answer 4

"Hour" is an excellent example of the imprecision in the rule "an before a vowel". One needs to distinguish between a "phonetic" vowel/consonant and "literal" vowel/consonant. "H" is a literal consonant, so in writing, use "a", however, it is pronounced "our", so in speaking, say "an".

Answer 5

in simple terms approximately continuously. in spite of the shown fact that, words beginning with U do no longer. you're able to say "An unique concept" (regardless of the reality that that's an extremely previous college thank you to communicate - contemporary utilization may be "a different concept") yet you certainly does no longer say "An unicorn".

Answer 6

No.

An ant trail made its way across the path.

The 'a' in ant sounds like a vowel.

Answer 7

Lots of words that begin with "u" - for example ukulele, but not all "u" words - eg "umpire".

Answer 8

Unicorn and uniform are examples which don't have "an".