Choosing a or an by the next sound
· 1:15 · With Emma
Today, Emma explains how to choose “a” or “an” by the sound that comes next. Listen to the first sound of the next word, not just its first letter. Use “a” before a consonant…
Transcript
Vocabulary in this episode
- consonant sound
Use “a” before a consonant sound.
A consonant sound is a speech sound made without a vowel sound.
- consonant sound
The word starts with the letter U, but its first sound is like “you,” a consonant sound.
Here, “consonant sound” means the sound at the start of “you,” rather than a vowel sound.
- vowel sound
Use “an” before a vowel sound.
A vowel sound is a speech sound like the sounds in “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” or “u.”
- vowel sound
The H is silent, so the first sound is a vowel sound.
Because the H is not pronounced, the word begins with a vowel sound.
- vowel sound
The letter M is pronounced “em,” which starts with a vowel sound.
The name of the letter M begins with a vowel sound.
- silent
The H is silent, so the first sound is a vowel sound.
The H is silent because it is not spoken.
- spelling alone
So, the spelling alone does not decide.
The written letters by themselves do not determine which article to use.
- article
Listen to the sound at the start of the next word, and choose the article that fits.
An article is a small word such as “a” or “an” used before a noun.