ESL General English Grammar Questions

ESL General English Grammar Questionshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3607.32596)Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/7/xjc/Post.htm#269750Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:269750nona the brit0http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/7/xjc/Post.htm#269750http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-269750.xmlI'm not surprised people find this confusing though. It must be awful if you are not sure how to pronounce such a word. I can remember being taught the misleading rule 'a for consonants and an for vowels' at school but luckily as native speakers we'd already learnt the real rule before we had to start writing.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#269746Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:269746Inchoateknowledge1http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#269746http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-269746.xmlI agree with Nona unique starts with a consonant sound: junic a junic a uniqueRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#269744Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:269744Teo2http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#269744http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-269744.xmlWe should say a university because university is pronounced as . Similarly, we should say an hour because hour is pronounced as . Unique is pronounced as .Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#269741Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:269741nona the brit3http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#269741http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-269741.xmlNo, it is the 'sound' of the first letter that counts, not whether it is an actual vowel. Unique starts with a 'yoo' sound and that is a consonant, therefore it needs 'a' before it. A unique. A unicorn. A unicycle. An upper-cut An underground passage An udder.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#269710Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:269710Anonymous4http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#269710http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-269710.xmli think an unique is correct. because of 'u' is an vowel.we know that every vowel word is coming with an.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#262579Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:262579Aperisic5http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#262579http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-262579.xmlJazz_messenger wrote: Hi, Which would be correct usage : 1. A unique 2. An Unique and why ? Cheers ! an SS soldier (a n e s es... ) a usable tool ( a y uz... ) an upper place (a n a p...) a + consonant (the first sound in the word) = a + consonant a + vowel (the first sound in the word) = a + n + vowel = an + vowelRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#262551Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:262551Mister Micawber6http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#262551http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-262551.xmlHello Simm, and welcome to English Forums. I hope you will register as a member (it's free!) and join our discussions frequently. The indefinite article (a, an) is determined by the first sound of the word, not the letter, so we have-- A u nique experience ( / ju :nik/ ) An u mbrella ( / um rela/ A h aircut ( / heir kut/ ) An h eir ( / eir / ) etc. I hope that helps.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#262505Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:262505Anonymous7http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#262505http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-262505.xmlA pleasant to you! This is my very first time to enter in your website as what our English professor here in our hospital advised me. I choose - A unique because in my whole life until today, I never met combination of An Unique words. Although unique starts with a vowel U but still it's awkward to say an unique. Maybe because of its usage or the way you will say makes "a unique" the one to be used all the times. Thank you so much. SIMMRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#224275Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:224275Mister Micawber8http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#224275http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-224275.xmlIt is not the letter, it is the sound , Anon. Unique starts with a / ju: / sound, so takes a . So also do a unicorn, a unicycle, a uterus , and a utensil.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#224255Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:224255Anonymous9http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/6/xjc/Post.htm#224255http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-224255.xmlHi, An Unique is a correct answer. Because if any vowels comes you should select "an". Otherwise select "a".Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#206696Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:206696Anonymous10http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#206696http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-206696.xmlAns is 2 because Unique starts with an VowelRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#196870Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:196870MrPedantic11http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#196870http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-196870.xmlAn ugly sister. An untoward incident. An unexpected consequence. An unhappy compromise. An utterly miserable existence. An understandable decision. An undignified exit down a drainpipe in the dead of night. An unfortunate miscalculation. An undertaker.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#196802Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:196802Anonymous12http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#196802http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-196802.xmlI can only think of “um-brel’la”. There aren’t too many word starting with a “U” that requires an article “an”. But an “A” is used for the following words: university, unicorn, union, unit and a “used car”etc……Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#196711Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:196711Mister Micawber13http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#196711http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-196711.xmlan umbrella an umbilical cord an undershirt an upper class twit an ultraviolet transmogrifierRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#196701Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:196701Anonymous14http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#196701http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-196701.xmlHi, Can you give me some cases of short "u" requiring "an" in front?Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#183995Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:183995Anonymous15http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#183995http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-183995.xmla unique is verb an Unique is nounRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#176793Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:176793MrPedantic16http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#176793http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-176793.xmlTeo wrote: A google search shows a unique 172,000,000 an unique 2,220,000 Given the large number of typos we usually find on webpages, I'm surprised it's such a small percentage (just over 1%) for "an unique". MrPRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#160176Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:160176My2sense17http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#160176http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-160176.xmlIt's 'A' not 'an ' ... you don't say - it's AN unique situation, he's AN unique person. You say- it's A unique situation and he's A unique person.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#160174Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:160174Teo18http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/5/xjc/Post.htm#160174http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-160174.xmlA google search shows a unique 172,000,000 an unique 2,220,000Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#160097Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:160097pieanne19http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#160097http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-160097.xmlMore like a "y" sound: a yolk, a young man, etc...Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#160083Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:160083Anonymous20http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#160083http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-160083.xmlA unique because it is vowel sound word.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#154827Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:154827pieanne21http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#154827http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-154827.xmlI'm afraid it's "a"...Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#154824Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:154824Anonymous22http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#154824http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-154824.xmlan uniqueRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#153709Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:153709My Shadow23http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#153709http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-153709.xmlHı I think A UNIQUE is correct because UNIQUE starts a long "U" sound so "U" isn't a vowel sound in hereRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#149589Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:149589MrPedantic24http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#149589http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-149589.xmlRather a harsh judgement, Anon. (You're not thinking of "eunuch"? They can be quite improper. Well, verbally, anyway.) MrPRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#149535Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:149535Anonymous25http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#149535http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-149535.xmlI believe a unique is correct because unique is not capitalized, and unique is an improper noun.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#118610Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:118610pieanne26http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#118610http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-118610.xmlAnd now phonetics turn into emoticons...Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#118124Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:118124MrPedantic27http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/4/xjc/Post.htm#118124http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-118124.xmlOh! Your capital has turned out strangely, Pieanne! MrPRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#117909Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:117909pieanne28http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#117909http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-117909.xmlYes, it is: "entire" begins with the sound , thus with a vowel .Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#117906Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:117906Anonymous29http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#117906http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-117906.xmlIs it correct to write 'an entire village'? If so under what rule? Kindly clarifyRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115374Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:115374MrPedantic30http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115374http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-115374.xmlHello, Snap2 That's how I would say them (in BrE). Others may disagree! MrPRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115342Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:115342snap231http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115342http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-115342.xmlThank you pieanne ! I already changed my post. I'am try it: 1) <an> author 2) <a> British author 3) <a> great authority 4) <a> hotel 5) <an> Amercian hotel 6) <a> European hotel 7) <an> hour or two 8) <a> quarter of <an> hour 9) it's <an> honour for me 10) it's <a>great honour for me 11) <a> university 12) <a> united Europe 13) <an> unusual university 14) <a> usually practised method 15) <an> unborn baby 16) <an> excellent author 17) <a> European country 18) <an> honourable man I hope that i didn't have mistakes. =) *** ...Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115339Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:115339pieanne32http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115339http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-115339.xmlWhat are your answers, Snap2? Then we can correct you, if need be PS: 11 & 18 are double posts.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115337Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:115337snap233http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115337http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-115337.xmlhi! In my mind, "an email" is correct. Have a look in a Dictionary and you can find after the word the pronunciation. email = You can see email is pronunced as "i:maIl". Thats the reason why you should write "an email". Have a look at your word. Is the first letter one of these (a,e,i,o,u) and the pronunciation is the same than you can write "an" but is the first letter of pronounciation not (a,e,i,o,u) than you must write "a". a little exercise: -> a or an <- 1) ... author 2) ... British author 3) ... great authority 4) ... hotel 5) ... Amercian hotel 6) ... European hotel 7) ... hour or two 8) ... quarter of ... hour 9) it's ... honour for me 10) it's ... great honour for me...Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115270Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:115270harbinger34http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115270http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-115270.xmlHi all On the same subject, how about "email" 1) A email to 2) An email From what we had discussed earlier, it should be "a email" right ? ThanksRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115212Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:115212dr.rajendrasingh35http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#115212http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-115212.xmljazz_messenger wrote: Hi, Which would be correct usage : 1. A unique 2. An Unique and why ? Cheers !Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#113803Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:113803Eimai_Anglos36http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/3/xjc/Post.htm#113803http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-113803.xmlA boy get s an apple .Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#113522Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:113522kemalerer37http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#113522http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-113522.xmlmust be "a" I think??Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#61626Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:61626babu`38http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#61626http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-61626.xmla boy get an appleRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#60464Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:60464selvaraj200439http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#60464http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-60464.xmla[No Subject]http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#28599Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:28599Guest40http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#28599http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-28599.xmlYes, 'a couple is' is right, since a couple is used to refer to two people collectively. Similarly for 'my group IS' and 'the band IS'.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#28512Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:28512mehmetgenç41http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#28512http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-28512.xmlhi.I am mehmet, from turkey I want to ask you a question about 'a,an'. can we say 'a couple is' ? is'it right or 'a couple are' which one is true? please hurry up!What about...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#28488Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:28488Guest42http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#28488http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-28488.xmlHi, Just curious: What about 'SMS'? Is it 'a SMS' or 'an SMS'? I prefer using the latter since it is more fluent (which is the reason for mutations, right?). Anyway, just a question regarding 'an': Is it just over here that primary school (or grade school) teachers seem to teach the pupils that 'an' should be used if the word begins with 'a e i o' or 'u'? Ok, perhaps it is because primary school pupils are still too young to grasp the 'sound-like vowel, NOT look like vowel' concept, but it seems that this was never taught too in secondary school, and my classmates still have the mistaken notion that 'an' is used as long as a word begins with a vowel. WJTWRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#25981Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:25981mirapence43http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#25981http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-25981.xmlHi Yo, A vowel sound is determined, as suzi rightly pointed out, not by its look, but by its sound. Two of the most confusing semi/half consonents in Engish are those such as /ju:/ in "Europe and /w/ in "one". The looks of these are very misleading. Let me elaborate on them separately. 1. u When the "u" sounds /ju:/ , without exception you will know it's a consonant. Other than this sound, all sounds derived from the "u" are vowels. You will find the differing sounds in examples given below. 1)"u" as consonants university, use, unanimous, U.N., utensil, etc. 2)"u" as vowels All other sounds such as "under", "urn", umpire and so on. 2. w world, work, waste, etc. It's easy to pick out the "w's" by their...Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#25967Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:25967yo44http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#25967http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-25967.xmlWhich one am I suppose to use?Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#23147Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:23147suzi45http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/2/xjc/Post.htm#23147http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-23147.xmlorojoV - have you "got this" now? the letter u is classsified as a vowel, obviously, but the use of an /a is dictated by the sound of the word, and not just how it looks onthe page. In this case we would say A unique.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/xjc/post.htm#23044Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:23044Guest46http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/xjc/post.htm#23044http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-23044.xmlhi. The answer is -A UNIQUE! because 'a' or 'an' are used according to the sound of the first letter.The sound of "unique " "u" is 'YU'..which is a consonant that's why we use "a" with unique.Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/xjc/post.htm#21005Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:21005whl62647http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/xjc/post.htm#21005http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-21005.xmlBecause the ' u ' is pronounced as ' you ' and ' you ' starts with yRe: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/xjc/post.htm#20994Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:20994OrujoV48http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/xjc/post.htm#20994http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-20994.xmlI don`t understand you. Why do you think it`s not a vowel?Re: "a" and "an"http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/xjc/post.htm#20993Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:20993OrujoV49http://www.englishforums.com/English/AAndAn/xjc/post.htm#20993http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-20993.xmlHi all! I think you can`t use any of these articles if you use this word without a noun. If you use it with a noun,you must use it with an,because "u" is a wovel! Any way,I think so,and this is my opinion!