There are no exceptions (but some duplications). An is not used before a
vowel but a vowel sound: a united group; an untied group. A herald; a
heraldic device/an heraldic device [silent h]; likewise, a is used before a
consonant sound. a history; a historical book/an historical book.
If the a is stressed, "It's A historical explanation not THE historical
explanation." [capitalization represents stressed syllable in speech].
Scott Catledge
.
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of ATEG automatic digest system
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 12:00 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: ATEG Digest - 15 Jan 2009 to 16 Jan 2009 (#2009-7)
There are 4 messages totalling 672 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Indefinite article in front of plural nouns?
2. "a" and "an" (2)
3. The hotel in Memphis
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:45:10 -0800
From: Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Indefinite article in front of plural nouns?
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Seung-Man,=C2=A0
I wrote:=C2=A0It's this simple: 'a' before a consonant, 'an' before a vowel=
.
=C2=A0
But note that there will be occasional wrinkles,=C2=A0words that begin with=
consonants but are pronounced with a vowel sound, e.g., "an hour", althoug=
h=C2=A0one hippopotamus is "a hippopotamus". One would not say, "I'll see y=
ou in a hour".
=C2=A0
You'll have to ask someone else about "hotel". The battle over that one has=
raged for centuries. "There's a hotel in Memphis", vs, "There's an hotel i=
n Memphis". The choice seems to depend on=C2=A0whether one stays in a hotel=
or an otel.
=C2=A0
Don't we have fun?
=C2=A0
.brad.16jan09.
=C2=A0
~~~~~~~~~
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
=C2=A0
Use 'a' before a consonant: a crowd of people, a watermelon, a car, a wrist=
watch, a vowel, a consonant, a tired runner, a time of peril,=C2=A0a sour a=
pple, a Korean.=C2=A0A stitch in time saves nine.=20
=C2=A0
Use 'an' before a vowel: an apple, an elephant, an idiot,=C2=A0an onion, an=
uncle, an easy way out, an American. He left an=C2=A0early wake-up call. A=
n apple a day keeps the doctor away.=20
=C2=A0
It's this simple: 'a' before a consonant, 'an' before a vowel.
=C2=A0
The plural noun has nothing to do with it. A crowd gathered. An angry crowd=
gathered.
=C2=A0
.brad.15jan09.
=C2=A0
Cute kids. Yours?
=C2=A0
~~~~~~~~~=C2=A0=C2=A0
=C2=A0
[log in to unmask] writes:
=C2=A0
Dear all,=C2=A0
Is there any idea how the indefinite article 'an' can be used in front of p=
lural nouns as in:=C2=A0
"An estimated 2, 500 people were killed."=C2=A0
Please let me know!!=C2=A0
Seung-Man=C2=A0
Kang, Seung-Man=C2=A0
[=EB=AC=B8=ED=99=94=EB=9D=BC=EC=9A=B4=EC=A7=80]=EC=84=B8=EC=83=81=C2=A0=EB=
=AA=A8=EB=93=A0=C2=A0=EC=97=84=EB=A7=88=EC=99=80=C2=A0=EB=94=B8=EB=93=A4=EC=
=9D=84=C2=A0=EC=9C=84=ED=95=9C=C2=A0=EA=B3=B5=EC=97=B0<=EC=B9=9C=EC=A0=95=
=EC=97=84=EB=A7=88=EC=99=80=C2=A02=EB=B0=953=EC=9D=BC>
=C2=A0=0A=0A=0A
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<table cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" border=3D"0" ><tr><td valign=3D"=
top" style=3D"font: inherit;"><DIV><STRONG>Seung-Man,</STRONG><SPAN class=
=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR><STRONG><EM></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>I wrote:<EM> </EM></STRONG><STRONG><EM>It's this simple: =
'a' before a consonant, 'an' before a vowel.</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>But note that t</STRONG><STRONG>here will be occasional wrinkl=
es, words that begin with consonants but are pronounced with a vowel s=
ound, e.g., "an hour", although one hippopotamus is "a hippopotamus". =
One would not say, "I'll see you in a hour".</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>You'll have to ask someone else about "hotel". The battle over=
that one has raged for centuries. "There's a hotel in Memphis", <EM>vs</EM=
>, "There's an hotel in Memphis". The choice seems to depend on whethe=
r one stays in a <EM>hotel</EM> or an <EM>otel</EM>.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Don't we have fun?</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>.brad.16jan09.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"verdana, helvetica, sans-serif"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>~=
~~~~~~~~</STRONG><BR></FONT></FONT><BR><B><I><[log in to unmask]></=
I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Use 'a' before a consonant: a crowd of people, a watermelon, a=
car, a wristwatch, a vowel, a consonant, a tired runner, a time of peril,&=
nbsp;a sour apple, a Korean. A stitch in time saves nine. </STRONG></D=
IV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Use 'an' before a vowel: an apple, an elephant, an idiot, =
;an onion, an uncle, an easy way out, an American. He left an early wa=
ke-up call. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>It's this simple: 'a' before a consonant, 'an' before a vowel.=
</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>The plural noun has nothing to do with it. A crowd gathered. A=
n angry crowd gathered.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>.brad.15jan09.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Cute kids. Yours?</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"verdana, helvetica, sans-serif" size=3D3><STRONG>~~~~~~~=
~~ </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A href=3D"http://us.mc365.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=3Dsmk9610@HANM=
AIL.NET" target=3D_blank rel=3Dnofollow><FONT color=3D#003399>smk9610@HANMA=
IL.NET</FONT></A> writes:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, sans=
-serif">Dear all,<SPAN class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR><BR>I=
s there any idea how the indefinite article 'an' can be used in front of pl=
ural nouns as in:<SPAN class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR><BR>"=
An estimated 2, 500 people were killed."<SPAN class=3DApple-converted-space=
> </SPAN><BR><BR></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; =
FONT-FAMILY: Arial, sans-serif">Please let me know!!<SPAN class=3DApple-con=
verted-space> </SPAN><BR><BR>Seung-Man<SPAN class=3DApple-converted-sp=
ace> </SPAN><BR><BR></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black=
; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, sans-serif"><FONT size=3D2>Kang, Seung-Man</FONT></SP=
AN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, sans-s=
erif"><SPAN class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR><BR><A title=3Dm=
ailto:[log in to unmask] style=3D"COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"
href=3D"[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">http:[log in to unmask]
" target=3D_blank rel=3Dnofollow><SPAN style=3D"TEXT-DECORATION: none"><IMG=
id=3D_x0000_i1025 alt=3Dmailto:[log in to unmask] src=3D"http://nametag.h=
anmail.net/LO8amPtJFnznwKQP1sKiXg00" border=3D0></SPAN></A></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>
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none"><SPAN class=3DApple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style=
=3D"COLOR: rgb(57,81,199); FONT-FAMILY: Gulim, serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none=
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none"><</SPAN><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: rgb(57,81,199); FONT-FAMILY: Gulim,=
serif; TEXT-DECORATION:
none">=C4=A3=C1=A4=BE=F6=B8=B6=BF=CD</SPAN><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: rgb(57,81=
,199); TEXT-DECORATION: none"><SPAN class=3DApple-converted-space> </S=
PAN>2</SPAN><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: rgb(57,81,199); FONT-FAMILY: Gulim, serif=
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--0-994979714-1232120710=:97559--
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:27:03 -0800
From: Richard Wallis <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: "a" and "an"
--_92f16c91-13a1-4b4d-a891-3e405a7161c6_
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Our friend Brad tried to summarize the rule as follows:=20
Use 'a' before a consonant. Use 'an' before a vowel. =20
=20
Brad=92s =93simple=94 rule is actually incorrect=2C yet it is frequently pa=
rroted by teachers and grammarians. It thus continually confuses and trips =
up non-native speakers because it focuses on spelling rather than phonology=
.
=20
The correct rule is as follows:=20
Use =93a=94 before a consonant sound. Use =93an=94 before a vowel sound.
=20
Examples
A useful rule
An unpeeled apple
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live=99: Keep your life in sync.=20
http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=3DTXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_012009=
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--_92f16c91-13a1-4b4d-a891-3e405a7161c6_
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<html>
<head>
<style>
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px=3B
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
font-size: 10pt=3B
font-family:Verdana
}
</style>
</head>
<body class=3D'hmmessage'>
<FONT face=3DArial>Our friend Brad tried to summarize the rule as follows: =
</FONT><BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Use 'a' before=
a consonant. U</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR:=
#444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman=
'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-la=
nguage: AR-SA"><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FO=
NT-FAMILY: Arial">se 'an' before a vowel. =3B </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><?=
xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"=
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#=
000000> =3B<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D=
"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial U=
nicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B ms=
o-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#000000=
>Brad=92s =93simple=94 rule is actually incorrect=2C yet it is frequently p=
arroted by teachers and grammarians. It thus continually confuses and trips=
up non-native speakers because it focuses on spelling rather than phonolog=
y.</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D=
"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial U=
nicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B ms=
o-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#000000=
></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> =3B<BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D=
"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial U=
nicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B ms=
o-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-S=
IZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode =
MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-=
language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#000000>The co=
rrect rule is as follows: </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D=
"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial U=
nicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B ms=
o-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-S=
IZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode =
MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-=
language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>=
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D=
"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial U=
nicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B ms=
o-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-S=
IZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode =
MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-=
language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10=
pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'=3B =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-languag=
e: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#000000>Use =93a=94 b=
efore a consonant sound. Use =93an=94 before a vowel sound.</FONT></SPAN></=
SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D=
"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial U=
nicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B ms=
o-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-S=
IZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode =
MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-=
language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10=
pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'=3B =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-languag=
e: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></SPAN=
></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> =3B<BR><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10=
pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Tim=
es New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B=
mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: A=
rial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: E=
N-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi=
-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B=
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B=
mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-s=
ize: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fa=
reast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fa=
reast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12=
.0pt">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#=
000000>Examples</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#=
000000>A useful rule<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-fa=
mily: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language=
: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT co=
lor=3D#000000>An unpeeled apple</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></=
SPAN><BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D=
"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial U=
nicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B ms=
o-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-S=
IZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode =
MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-=
language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10=
pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'=3B =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-languag=
e: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></SPAN=
></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> =3B<BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D=
"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial U=
nicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B ms=
o-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-S=
IZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode =
MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-=
language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10=
pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'=3B =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-languag=
e: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></SPAN=
></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> =3B<BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D=
"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial U=
nicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B ms=
o-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-S=
IZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode =
MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-=
language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT=
></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> =3B<BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style=3D=
"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial U=
nicode MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B ms=
o-bidi-language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-S=
IZE: 10pt=3B FONT-FAMILY: Arial=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Arial Unicode =
MS'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-=
language: AR-SA=3B mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT=
></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> =3B<BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></SPAN>=
 =3B<BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></SPAN>=
</SPAN></SPAN> =3B<BR>
<SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt=3B COLOR: #444444=3B FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l=3B mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'=3B mso-ansi-language: EN-US=
=3B mso-fareast-language: EN-US=3B mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></SPAN>=
 =3B<BR>
<RTE_TEXT></RTE_TEXT><BR><br /><hr />Windows Live=99: Keep your life in syn=
c. <a href=3D'http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=3DTXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_=
explore_012009' target=3D'_new'>Check it out.</a></body>
</html>=
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<p>
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--_92f16c91-13a1-4b4d-a891-3e405a7161c6_--
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:29:55 -0500
From: "STAHLKE, HERBERT F" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: "a" and "an"
To give Brad his due, he did add a clause mentioning the sound, but he did =
miss the point of the original query, which was not "why 'an' rather than '=
a'" but "why an indefinite article with a plural noun." That question has =
been answered in this thread.
Herb
Herbert F. W. Stahlke, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of English
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
[log in to unmask]
________________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]
U] On Behalf Of Richard Wallis [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: January 16, 2009 3:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: "a" and "an"
Our friend Brad tried to summarize the rule as follows:
Use 'a' before a consonant. Use 'an' before a vowel.
Brad=92s =93simple=94 rule is actually incorrect, yet it is frequently parr=
oted by teachers and grammarians. It thus continually confuses and trips up=
non-native speakers because it focuses on spelling rather than phonology.
The correct rule is as follows:
Use =93a=94 before a consonant sound. Use =93an=94 before a vowel sound.
Examples
A useful rule
An unpeeled apple
________________________________
Windows Live=99: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.<http://windowslive.c=
om/explore?ocid=3DTXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_012009> To join or leave th=
is LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv=
.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list"
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:00:25 -0800
From: Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: The hotel in Memphis
--0-563227400-1232164825=:55880
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
You're right: phonology=A0rather than spelling,=A0although the simple formu=
la may be a useful=A0rule with the caveat that there are words like "useful=
" that may have to be learned separately.
=A0
Remember the wonderful picture of a little Chinese boy=A0that Berlitz ran w=
ith the caption, "If he can learn Chinese, so can you". ESL and=A0Chinese a=
s a Second Language present problems that little boys and little girls dodg=
e early on, just by listening, or rather, just by hearing.
=A0
Richard, how say you to ...
=A0
"There's a hotel in Memphis .."?
=A0
or
=A0
"There's an hotel in Memphis .."?
=A0
~~~~~~~~~~~=A0
Richard Wallis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
=A0
Our friend Brad tried to summarize the rule as follows: Use 'a' before a co=
nsonant. Use 'an' before a vowel.=A0=20
Brad=92s =93simple=94 rule is actually incorrect, yet it is frequently parr=
oted by teachers and grammarians. It thus continually confuses and trips up=
non-native speakers because it focuses on spelling rather than phonology.
=A0
The correct rule is as follows: Use =93a=94 before a consonant sound. Use =
=93an=94 before a vowel sound.
=A0
Examples
A useful rule
An unpeeled apple
=0A=0A=0A
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--0-563227400-1232164825=:55880
Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<table cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" border=3D"0" ><tr><td valign=3D"=
top" style=3D"font: inherit;"><DIV><STRONG>You're right: phonology rat=
her than spelling, although the simple formula may be <U>a</U> useful&=
nbsp;rule <U>with</U> the caveat that there are words like "useful" that ma=
y have to be learned separately.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Remember the wonderful picture of a little Chinese boy th=
at Berlitz ran with the caption, "If he can learn Chinese, so can you". ESL=
and Chinese as a Second Language present problems that little boys an=
d little girls dodge early on, just by listening, or rather, just by hearin=
g.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Richard, how say you to ...</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>"There's a hotel in Memphis .."?</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>or</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>"There's an hotel in Memphis .."?</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"verdana, helvetica, sans-serif"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>~=
~~~~~~~~~~</STRONG> <BR><BR></FONT></FONT><B> Richard Wallis <I><rh=
[log in to unmask]></I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Our friend Brad tried to summarize the rule as follows: <SPAN><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Use 'a' before =
a consonant. U</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #4=
44444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #44=
4444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">se 'an' before a vowel. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN><BR></DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Ari=
al"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#0000=
00>Brad=92s =93simple=94 rule is actually incorrect, yet it is frequently p=
arroted by teachers and grammarians. It thus continually confuses and trips=
up non-native speakers because it focuses on spelling rather than phonolog=
y.</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><BR><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COL=
OR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMIL=
Y: Arial"><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> <BR><SPAN=
><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN =
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10p=
t; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#000000>The correct rule is as follows=
: </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; =
COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FA=
MILY:
Arial"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style=3D"=
FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#000000>Use =93a=94 befo=
re a consonant sound. Use =93an=94 before a vowel sound.</FONT></SPAN></SPA=
N></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><BR><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #44=
4444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-=
SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></SPAN></SPAN>=
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> <BR><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR:=
#444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style=3D"F=
ONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FA=
MILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#000000>Examples</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE=
: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#000000>A useful rule</FONT></SPA=
N></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#000=
000>An unpeeled apple</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><BR><=
/SPAN></SPAN></DIV></td></tr></table><br>=0A=0A=0A=0A
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--0-563227400-1232164825=:55880--
------------------------------
End of ATEG Digest - 15 Jan 2009 to 16 Jan 2009 (#2009-7)
*********************************************************
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