#1  
Old 04-Jul-2006, 06:26
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 149
Home Country: Thailand
Native Language: Thai
Current Location: Thailand
Member Type: Interested in Language
Default A or an usual...?

What should you use the article with “usual” between “a” and “an”. Can I say a usual way or an usual way, because normally, we would see the usuals (the thing which is typically done or present) / in the usual fashion / the usual state.


Thank you
Piak
  #2  
Old 04-Jul-2006, 07:52
Casiopea's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,971
Member Type: Other
Default Re: A or an usual...?

The first syllable of usual is pronounced [ju:], as in you, so use "a", not "an", with words that begin with the sound [j]. Other examples,

united [ju:]
Uganda [ju:]
university [ju:]

The rule is a phonetic one. It's based on sound, not what the letter looks like.

If a word begins with a vowel "sound", use an.
If a word begins with a consonant(al) "sound", use a.
  #3  
Old 11-Jul-2006, 13:09
Member
Threadstarter  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 149
Home Country: Thailand
Native Language: Thai
Current Location: Thailand
Member Type: Interested in Language
Default Re: A or an usual...?

Thank you Casiopea for your reply to this confusing usage of A & An in front of a word placed in front of Usual.

Best regards,
Piak

Last edited by Piak; 12-Jul-2006 at 09:19.
Closed Thread

Bookmarks

Tags
usual


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
As usual and As before zongzong Ask a Teacher 2 26-May-2006 06:05
usual or usually chris1 Ask a Teacher 1 17-May-2006 02:36
(Rare, Usual) (Seldom, Often) kahhong Ask a Teacher 1 05-Feb-2006 09:34
usual color Anonymous Ask a Teacher 1 12-Oct-2004 15:26


All times are GMT. The time now is 19:42.



Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.