Anonymous  +  463799 Mon, 14 Jan 08 12:35 AM In English language we have "Vowels" A,E,I,O,U and we use "AN" with them .  I heard people saying "An Hour" etc.. which makes no sense . Can you guys explain what is the deal here... Anonymous Vowels

	Grammar Geek  +  463800 Mon, 14 Jan 08 12:40 AM It's not whether it's a vowel, but whether it's a vowel sound. An umbrella, a university. An hour, a horse. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 20,853 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Vowels, Universities

	Philip  +  464133 Mon, 14 Jan 08 04:17 PM "Historical fact":  some pronounce the 'h' in this word, needing 'a'.  If the 'h' is not pronounced, one needs 'an'. Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 9,286 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

	Madame_butterfly  +  464152 Mon, 14 Jan 08 05:04 PM it entirely depends on the pronunciation of the word, if the pronunciation begins with a vowel then u should use "an". Madame_butterfly Joined on Mon, Jan 14 2008 New Member 03 Vowels, Pronunciation

	Grammar Geek  +  464160 Mon, 14 Jan 08 05:54 PM Hi Madame Butterfly - what a lovely nick, and welcome to the forums. Just to clarify, the vowel itself doesn't determine the use of "a" or "an." Some u-words start with a Y sound, like "univeristy," and therefore take the article "a," not "an." Grammar Geek Articles, Vowels

	Madame_butterfly  +  464162 Mon, 14 Jan 08 06:03 PM Thank you Grammar Geek for your compliment, I am glad to be here with you sharing and learning. In fact I have also meant what you said. If the pronunciation starts with a consonant sound then it takes "a", as in "university". Besides, as in "hour", the pronunciation starts with a vowel, and it takes "an". I think we agree on the same idea. I hope I could make myself clear enough Madame_butterfly Grammar, Vowels, Consonants, Universities, Pronunciation

	Philip  +  464209 Mon, 14 Jan 08 07:49 PM Hoş geldiniz, Madame_Butterfly. Philip