We know the rule, if a word starts with a vowel: a. e, i, o or u we use an in front of it.
If a word starts with a consonant, not a vowel, we us a in front of it.
For example:
an apple
a banana
an egg
a fish
However, as you have come to expect from the English language, there are exceptions.
"I went for a walk for an hour."
Why didn't I go for a walk for a hour?
This is because the 'h' in hour is silent and so when we say the word it sounds like 'our'.
Since 'our' begins with a vowel 'o' we use an.
"I went to a university in England."
Why didn't I go to an university?
Even though university begins with a vowel, 'u', it sounds like it begins with a consonant, y, and so we use 'a'.
This is also the case with other words such as European and uniform.
a European
a uniform
"I bought a one-way ticket to Paris."
Why didn't I buy an one-way ticket?
Although one starts with an 'o' when we say the word it sounds like it begins with a consonant, w, so we use 'a'.
Hopefully this blog post will have helped you to answer the following question.
Check your understanding:
Is it an umbrella or a umbrella?
answer
an umbrella
Is it a orange or an orange?
answer
an orange
Is it a yoghurt or an yoghurt?
answer
a yoghurt
Is it a European or an European?
answer
a European
Is it a university or an university?
answer
a university
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