Indefinite Articles

[Fazzu]

'an M.A' because it is 'an em.A', right?

Why is it a one dollar note?Is it because the 'one' pronounced as 'won'?

[hlbert03]

Hello Fazzu,

Yes, all the words that start with a consonant letter but sound like a vowel when read should be preceeded with an article used for a vowel which is "an".

In addition, all the words having "U" as the first letter, an article "a" should be used. For example:

- United
- University
- Union

[Philly]

'an M.A' because it is 'an em.A', right?
Why is it a one dollar note?Is it because the 'one' pronounced as 'won'?

Yes, Fazzu, the use of an is based on proununciation.
- a one-armed bandit
- an ordinary bandit
- a university
- an umbrella
- a house
- an hour
.

[Fazzu]

Thanks Hlbert & Philly.Another question arises here:'Why do you represent 'you' for the letter 'u'?

[hlbert03]

I guess because 'u' is read as 'you'.

[Fazzu]

I guess because 'u' is read as 'you'.

Yes,Hlbert.That was what I was saying.I want to know why is it 'you' to represent the letter 'u'.

[Philly]

.
The letter "u" (as it is pronounced in the alphabet) sounds the same as the word "you", Fazzu.

[Fazzu]

Yes Philly,I know that,of course.What I was trying to ask is that:

'People use 'an' for 'umbrella' because it's pronounced as 'ambrella' but why not 'an' for 'university' because it's pronounced as 'you-ni-versity',am I right?So why is it 'you-ni-versity' and not 'u-ni-versity'(with the use of the letter u itself)?

I hope you understood my question.

[Philly]

Hi Fazzu
.
Yes, it's "a university" because when you pronounce "university", the first sound is the same as the first sound in words that begin with y: you, yellow, young, etc. (And the word "you" just happens to rhyme with the letter u.)
.
I guess they did that to make sure that you understand ("visualize") the pronunciation difference.