Q&A - P1 English

[ANON001]

//Moderator's note: Topics merged.


Hi, anyone can explain the use of \"a\" and \"an\" for the following P1 Qns :

1. Lisa is a or an honest girl.
2. Do you know how to draw a/ an unicorn?

[raeshaecheong]

TAURUS:

Hi, anyone can explain the use of \"a\" and \"an\" for the following P1 Qns :


1. Lisa is a or an honest girl.
2. Do you know how to draw a/ an unicorn?

(1): an --> H is silent letter. So, we merely pronounced it as 'o-nest'. The same goes for HOUR, it will be AN HOUR.
(2): a --> unicorn is pronounced as 'u-ni-corn'. Just like university, union, we use a university, a union.

[jedamum]

mods,

pls merge. TQ
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1218&start=75

[Full.010894Cream]

so ‘an’ ear or ‘a’ ear?

[turquoise]

Full.Cream:

so 'an' ear or 'a' ear?

\"Ear\" is pronounced ir, according to the dictionary. Hence, it is 'an ear'.

[Full.010894Cream]

turquoise:

Full.Cream:

so 'an' ear or 'a' ear?

\"Ear\" is pronounced ir, according to the dictionary. Hence, it is 'an ear'.

I checked dictionary.com and it varies slightly, ie, 'eer'. Doesn't 'ee' pronounce like it starts with 'y'? :?

[turquoise]

Full.Cream:

turquoise:

[quote=\"Full.Cream\"]so 'an' ear or 'a' ear?

\"Ear\" is pronounced ir, according to the dictionary. Hence, it is 'an ear'.

I checked dictionary.com and it varies slightly, ie, 'eer'. Doesn't 'ee' pronounce like it starts with 'y'? :?[/quote]It's pronounced with an 'e' sound, not a 'y' sound. 'Eer' and 'Ir' are the same, pronounced with an 'e' sound. The word begins with a vowel. Hence 'an ear'.

If it was pronounced with a 'y' sound, like 'year', the dictionary pronunciation would read 'yeer'.

[KingRascal]

TAURUS:

//Moderator's note: Topics merged.


Hi, anyone can explain the use of \"a\" and \"an\" for the following P1 Qns :

1. Lisa is a or an honest girl.
2. Do you know how to draw a/ an unicorn?

Hi Taurus,

You may use this as a guide. When the word is not pronounced with the typical phonetic sound, the usual \"a/an\" rule does not apply.

E.g. \"h\" in honest is silent and not pronounced as how \"h\" should be done. Instead the \"o\" sound is used. Thus the \"a/e/i/o/u\" rule kicks in here. Therefore it becomes \"an honest\".

E.g. \"u\" in uniform, unicorn, unit, etc., is not pronounced as the usual \"u\" sound under phonics, therefore the \"a/e/i/o/u\" rules does nt apply. Instead \"u\" in ugly, untidy, understanding, etc., use the typical phonetic \"u\" sounds, therefore \"an\" wld be used with these words...

Hope my explanation helps...trying my best to put what I know into words You can think of other words and would realise they would fit into the rules I mentioned.

[Full.010894Cream]

Thx, turquoise!!

[sunset_dae]

Correct me if im wrong:


For the lst letter of the word that follow the phonetic sound, we use \"an\" (e.g Ugly, untidy..) and vice versa??

KingRascal:

Hi Taurus,

You may use this as a guide. When the word is not pronounced with the typical phonetic sound, the usual \"a/an\" rule does not apply.

E.g. \"h\" in honest is silent and not pronounced as how \"h\" should be done. Instead the \"o\" sound is used. Thus the \"a/e/i/o/u\" rule kicks in here. Therefore it becomes \"an honest\".

E.g. \"u\" in uniform, unicorn, unit, etc., is not pronounced as the usual \"u\" sound under phonics, therefore the \"a/e/i/o/u\" rules does nt apply. Instead \"u\" in ugly, untidy, understanding, etc., use the typical phonetic \"u\" sounds, therefore \"an\" wld be used with these words...

Hope my explanation helps...trying my best to put what I know into words You can think of other words and would realise they would fit into the rules I mentioned.