About the article "an".

[laurici]

Please, teacher.

I would like to know why do I have to use "an" before the word "special" as in the phrase " He is an special friend".
As I know, "s" is a consonant. Do I have to use "an" all the time there's a sound like this, or when the word starts with "s" followed by a consonant?
Could you give me some examples, please?
Thank you a lot.

Laurici Colen

[piousoul]

Please, teacher.

I would like to know why do I have to use "an" before the word "special" as in the phrase " He is an special friend".
As I know, "s" is a consonant. Do I have to use "an" all the time there's a sound like this, or when the word starts with "s" followed by a consonant?
Could you give me some examples, please?
Thank you a lot.

Laurici Colen

I don't think so; in terms of what I learned, here "a" fits better. Maybe there are possible alternatives; that needs comments from English gurus.

[Tdol]

I agree- it's wrong. You would use an before the letter s in acronyms:
An STD

'An special' is wrong- if you heard it, then the person may have been planning on using a word beginning with a voewl and then changed their mind.