using "an"

Post by Daniel.C
Hi.
I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel.
I think this is correct : an user
but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think.

The word is *pronounced* "yoozer". So it might *look*
like it's beginning with a vowel, but it isn't. Just
say it aloud. A few interesting examples (try them):

a user - an upgrade - a union
an heir - a hair - an hour

This means you have to know how the word is pronounced.
Sorry for that, but English is tough stuff:

<www.yourdictionary.com/library/tough.html>

Pierre Hallet

loki harfagr

2008-05-01 14:25:01 UTC

Post by Daniel.C
Hi.
I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel.

a *vowel sound* (not like for the 'the' case ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
I think this
an user

no, the 'u' here's a special diphtong

Post by Daniel.C
but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think. Can you
help me ?

I'd pronounce '"er" user' or in some circles I'd even try
the '"ay" user', in some other circles that'll be 'a luser' ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
Thanks in advance.
Daniel

hope it helped :-)

Einde O'Callaghan

2008-05-02 20:15:51 UTC

Post by Daniel.C
Hi.
I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel.

a *vowel sound* (not like for the 'the' case ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
I think this
an user

no, the 'u' here's a special diphtong

Post by Daniel.C
but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think. Can you
help me ?

I'd pronounce '"er" user' or in some circles I'd even try
the '"ay" user', in some other circles that'll be 'a luser' ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
Thanks in advance.
Daniel

hope it helped :-)

It doesn't look at all helpful to me. Pierre H. has given the right
answer - the use of "a" or "an" depends on pronunciation, not spelling.

REgards, Einde O'Callaghan

Jawade

2008-05-02 20:28:28 UTC

In article <***@mid.individual.net>, Einde O'Callaghan <***@planet-
interkom.de> says...

Post by Daniel.C
Hi.
I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel.

a *vowel sound* (not like for the 'the' case ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
I think this
an user

no, the 'u' here's a special diphtong

Post by Daniel.C
but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think. Can you
help me ?

I'd pronounce '"er" user' or in some circles I'd even try
the '"ay" user', in some other circles that'll be 'a luser' ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
Thanks in advance.
Daniel

hope it helped :-)

It doesn't look at all helpful to me. Pierre H. has given the right
answer - the use of "a" or "an" depends on pronunciation, not spelling.

Thanks to all, it was a good lesson for me. (dutch)

--
Met vriendelijke groeten, Jawade. Weer update BackUp-prog.
http://jawade.nl/ Met een mirror op http://jawade.fortunecity.com/
Bootmanager (+Vista +Linux), ClrMBR, DiskEdit (+Linux), POP3lezer,
DOS-Filebrowser, Kalender, Webtellers en IP-log, USB-stick tester.

Daniel.C

2008-05-02 21:58:27 UTC

Many thanks.
Daniel

Post by Jawade
interkom.de> says...

Post by Daniel.C
Hi.
I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel.

a *vowel sound* (not like for the 'the' case ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
I think this
an user

no, the 'u' here's a special diphtong

Post by Daniel.C
but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think. Can you
help me ?

I'd pronounce '"er" user' or in some circles I'd even try
the '"ay" user', in some other circles that'll be 'a luser' ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
Thanks in advance.
Daniel

hope it helped :-)

It doesn't look at all helpful to me. Pierre H. has given the right
answer - the use of "a" or "an" depends on pronunciation, not spelling.

Thanks to all, it was a good lesson for me. (dutch)
--
Met vriendelijke groeten, Jawade. Weer update BackUp-prog.
http://jawade.nl/ Met een mirror op http://jawade.fortunecity.com/
Bootmanager (+Vista +Linux), ClrMBR, DiskEdit (+Linux), POP3lezer,
DOS-Filebrowser, Kalender, Webtellers en IP-log, USB-stick tester.

loki harfagr

2008-05-03 08:39:33 UTC

Post by Daniel.C
Hi.
I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel.

a *vowel sound* (not like for the 'the' case ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
I think this
an user

no, the 'u' here's a special diphtong

Post by Daniel.C
but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think. Can you
help me ?

I'd pronounce '"er" user' or in some circles I'd even try
the '"ay" user', in some other circles that'll be 'a luser' ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
Thanks in advance.
Daniel

hope it helped :-)

It doesn't look at all helpful to me. Pierre H. has given the right
answer - the use of "a" or "an" depends on pronunciation, not spelling.

then as my answer was all about pronunciation I can't
really understand your remark! Anyway, the OP seems to have
read it correctly so at least I didn't totally miss my post ;-)

Einde O'Callaghan

2008-05-03 13:12:25 UTC

Post by Daniel.C
Hi.
I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel.

a *vowel sound* (not like for the 'the' case ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
I think this
an user

no, the 'u' here's a special diphtong

Post by Daniel.C
but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think. Can you
help me ?

I'd pronounce '"er" user' or in some circles I'd even try
the '"ay" user', in some other circles that'll be 'a luser' ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
Thanks in advance.
Daniel

hope it helped :-)

It doesn't look at all helpful to me. Pierre H. has given the right
answer - the use of "a" or "an" depends on pronunciation, not spelling.

then as my answer was all about pronunciation I can't
really understand your remark! Anyway, the OP seems to have
read it correctly so at least I didn't totally miss my post ;-)

If that's the case you were also wrong - the pronunciation of the glide
between teh article and the noun doesn't have any trace of an "r" in it
at all - "ah yoozer", using English orthography.

And the sound represented by the "u" is not a diphthong of any kind - it
starts with the consonant sound represented by "y" in English and is
followed by a long "u" sound - even if in some linguistic texts the
former sound is described as a semi-vowel, it is still a consonant.

If you are going to give advice about pronunciation then please try to
get it right.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

loki harfagr

2008-05-03 18:51:44 UTC

Post by Daniel.C
Hi.
I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel.

a *vowel sound* (not like for the 'the' case ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
I think this
an user

no, the 'u' here's a special diphtong

Post by Daniel.C
but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think. Can you
help me ?

I'd pronounce '"er" user' or in some circles I'd even try
the '"ay" user', in some other circles that'll be 'a luser' ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
Thanks in advance.
Daniel

hope it helped :-)

It doesn't look at all helpful to me. Pierre H. has given the right
answer - the use of "a" or "an" depends on pronunciation, not spelling.

then as my answer was all about pronunciation I can't
really understand your remark! Anyway, the OP seems to have read it
correctly so at least I didn't totally miss my post ;-)

If that's the case you were also wrong - the pronunciation of the glide
between teh article and the noun doesn't have any trace of an "r" in it
at all

correct, but I wasn't using IPA or SAMPA, I just used the
closest english word "er", you know that word, don't you?

Post by Einde O'Callaghan
- "ah yoozer", using English orthography.

Now, you certainly have an accent or a loose way to read your
own explainations ;D)

Post by Einde O'Callaghan
And the sound represented by the "u" is not a diphthong of any kind

You're mad and/or after me and/or shocked?

Post by Einde O'Callaghan
- it
starts with the consonant sound represented by "y" in English and is
followed by a long "u" sound - even if in some linguistic texts the
former sound is described as a semi-vowel, it is still a consonant.

You're giving too much importance to the idea of your own
importance when you have an idea ;-)

I'll admit the wikipedia is not exactly as "solid" a
reference as could be some but in case you'd like to try
and modify this page because their sample about the sound
of the "u" in 'user'
(IPA "ju", SAMPA "j}:" sample-word: "pupil")
doesn't really fit your need to believe and make
believe people that I'm all evil, go for it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAMPA_chart_for_English

Post by Einde O'Callaghan
If you are going to give advice about pronunciation then please try to
get it right.

right, and if you're in deep need to give advice about a
given advice please try to do it without feathers.

(FU2 tuned)

Einde O'Callaghan

2008-05-03 22:36:28 UTC

Post by Daniel.C
Hi.
I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel.

a *vowel sound* (not like for the 'the' case ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
I think this
an user

no, the 'u' here's a special diphtong

Post by Daniel.C
but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think. Can you
help me ?

I'd pronounce '"er" user' or in some circles I'd even try
the '"ay" user', in some other circles that'll be 'a luser' ;-)

Post by Daniel.C
Thanks in advance.
Daniel

hope it helped :-)

It doesn't look at all helpful to me. Pierre H. has given the right
answer - the use of "a" or "an" depends on pronunciation, not spelling.

then as my answer was all about pronunciation I can't
really understand your remark! Anyway, the OP seems to have read it
correctly so at least I didn't totally miss my post ;-)

If that's the case you were also wrong - the pronunciation of the glide
between teh article and the noun doesn't have any trace of an "r" in it
at all

correct, but I wasn't using IPA or SAMPA, I just used the
closest english word "er", you know that word, don't you?

Post by Einde O'Callaghan
- "ah yoozer", using English orthography.

Now, you certainly have an accent or a loose way to read your
own explainations ;D)

I wasn't trying to use any phonetic notation other than standard English
orthgraphy - mainly because very few learners of English can cope with
ASCII IPA notation.

Post by Einde O'Callaghan
And the sound represented by the "u" is not a diphthong of any kind

You're mad and/or after me and/or shocked?

Do you always react so hostilely to criticism of your method of
expression? Have you stopped taking your tablets? You used the wrong
linguistic term and as a trained language teacher I simply tried to
correct the false impression you had created.

Now I suggest you lie down and take a long rest until you've recovered
your composure.

You're giving too much importance to the idea of your own
importance when you have an idea ;-)
I'll admit the wikipedia is not exactly as "solid" a
reference as could be some but in case you'd like to try
and modify this page because their sample about the sound
of the "u" in 'user'
(IPA "ju", SAMPA "j}:" sample-word: "pupil")
doesn't really fit your need to believe and make
believe people that I'm all evil,

What gives you the idea that I think you're evil? Are you always this
paranoid? All I said was that you were wrong. Being right or wrong has
nothing to do with good or evil.

Einde O'Callaghan

Post by loki harfagr
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAMPA_chart_for_English

Post by Einde O'Callaghan
If you are going to give advice about pronunciation then please try to
get it right.

right, and if you're in deep need to give advice about a
given advice please try to do it without feathers.

Jim from Ross Township

2008-06-11 10:16:30 UTC

On May 3, 6:36 pm, Einde O'Callaghan <***@planet-
interkom.de> wrote:

<Snippo>

Post by Einde O'Callaghan
Do you always react so hostilely to criticism of your method of
expression? Have you stopped taking your tablets? You used the wrong
linguistic term and as a trained language teacher I simply tried to
correct the false impression you had created.
Now I suggest you lie down and take a long rest until you've recovered
your composure.

Post by Einde O'Callaghan
What gives you the idea that I think you're evil? Are you always this
paranoid? All I said was that you were wrong. Being right or wrong has
nothing to do with good or evil.
Einde O'Callaghan

<Snippo>

Can't we all just get along?

I am curious, however..."an historical fact"?

-- Jim Karatassos

Einde O'Callaghan

2008-06-11 22:40:08 UTC

Jim from Ross Township wrote:

<snip>

Post by Jim from Ross Township
I am curious, however..."an historical fact"?

Thisn is a relic of earlier pronunciation. The "h" in "history", "hotel"
and a number of words where it is now usually pronounced was silent in
earlier times, just as it still is in words like "hour" or "honest".
There are even a number of words where the "h" is pronounced in standard
speech in one part of the English speaking world and not in another,
e.g. the "h" in "herb" is pronounced in Britain but not in large parts
of the US.

BTW I'm not talking about the insertion or dropping of "h" in some
dialects such as Cockney English.

REgards, Einde O'Callaghan

Matilda

2008-05-11 03:46:33 UTC

Post by Daniel.C
Hi.
I learned to use "an" before a noun beginning by a vowel. I think this is
an user
but I read so many "a user" that I don't know what to think.
Can you help me ?
Thanks in advance.
Daniel

There are exceptions to every rule and this is one of them. In this case "a
user" is correct.

CDB

2008-05-30 14:09:13 UTC