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Proper usage of 'an'
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Proper usage of 'an' |
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Aenimal Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350the ass-end of space 
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I've recently written the line 'A hesitant sun' however, my instincts tell me 'An hesitant' would be proper english. What is the rule? I know 'an' is used before a soft 'h' but what of hard h's? Thanks in advance! |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
From http://www.englishplus.com/grammar/00000167.htm A or An ? The article a is used before consonant sounds; an is used before vowel sounds. Words beginning with h, o and u sometimes begin with a vowel sound, sometimes a consonant sound. Consonant Sound: a heroic couplet (h sound) a once-happy lover (w sound) a universal problem (y sound) Vowel Sound: an honest man (no h sound) an only child (o sound) an unusual insect (u sound) |
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SEA
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
'A hesitant sun' sounds right. I just read in another thread they used 'a ice age'. It should be (at least to my ears) an ice age. For me, it's how it sounds LOL  |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
I think we may have a master teacher on our hands! An honestly I mean it.  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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Not A Poet Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885Oklahoma, USA |
I seem to recall from an old,old English class that a word beginning with h with its first syllable not stressed should also be preceeded by an instead of a: "an historical reference," for instance. It never sounded right to me though. I suppose it could just be my Oklahoma influence but I always liked SEA's explanation. Pete |
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Aenimal Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350the ass-end of space |
Wow, you guys work fast. Thanks everyone but you can see my confusion. Mysteria's link states an is used before a soft h: an honest man an hour but Not a Poet is correct as well, 'an' is used before hard h's as well: an historic Is it a case of modern vs. old english? Shrugs |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
An becomes a for easier pronunciation before words beginning with consonant-sounds. It is smoother/easier to say "a dog" than "an dog" And it makes a difference in our speech considering how often we use an/a. Originally though, an was simply "one" in the same way as one (which comes from an) is "one" in our modern English; but also could be used to mean "alone," and "unique" in some contexts. It was never used as an "article" as an/a today. A word just naturally might carry that aspect. Thus hus "house" meant "house" but also meant "a house" |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
Ab "from, away from" is similar in Latin. It is usually a before words beginning in consonants: Ab oriente "from the east" but: A Deo "from God" |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
I'm with Sea...when it sounds right, I use it the way it sounds right. |
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Savage Quiescence Member
since 2002-07-29
Posts 326Wandering |
Why do my teachers always make me change it to "an horrific event"? You pronounce the h in horrific, so wouldn't it be "a horrific event"? |
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Not A Poet Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885Oklahoma, USA |
See the notes above. The first syllable in horrific is unstressed. |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
Some words became a bit altered from this a/an business: [From dictionary.com] Apron: [Middle English, from an apron, alteration of a napron, from Old French naperon, diminutive of nape, tablecloth, from Latin mappa, napkin. See map] Adder [Middle English, from an addre, alteration of a naddre, a snake, from Old English nædre, snake] Newt [Middle English neute, from a neute, alteration of an eute, variant of evete, from Old English efete.] Nickname: [Middle English neke name, from a neke name, alteration of an eke name : eke, addition (from Old English aca. See aug- in Indo-European Roots) + name, name; see name.] [This message has been edited by Essorant (04-10-2006 12:40 AM).] |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
Here's another one: Notch [Probably from a notch, alteration of an otch, from French oche, from Old French, from ochier, to notch.] |
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