Support NeoGAF

[Sqrt_minus_one]

The usage of the word 'an' has been bothering me for a while, now when I was a lad I was taught the word 'an' was only to be used when the proceeding word started with a vowel for example: an owl, an orange and an egg. Now over the years it seems more and more people appear to think that the word 'an' can be used in front of words beginning with 'h' such as an house, an hospital etc. Which is correct ?

ps: How do you pronounce the letter 'H' aitch or haitch ?

 

[StrikerObi]

You use "an" when the following word starts with a vowel sound. It pops up in front of H words because sometimes there is a vowel sound. house and hospital should be preceeded with "a," however, a word like "hour" should be preceeded with "an."

Edit: The same goes for how you pronouced "the." Before vowel sounds, the word should be pronouced "thee." Otherwise, it's pronouced "the."

 

[ChrisReid]

Striker nailed it. People saying "the" end always make me lose my mind.

 

[demon]

People saying "the" end always make me lose my mind.

..?

 

[Gattsu25]

People saying "the" end always make me lose my mind.

wait...what? how are ye surpossed ta say it then?

 

[demon]

wait...what? how are ye surpossed ta say it then?

Maybe he means you're supposed to pronounce it "thee" instead of "thuh". ....?

 

[hXc_thugg]

Maybe he means you're supposed to pronounce it "thee" instead of "thuh". ....?

Correct!

 

[demon]

Correct!

Ahh, okay.

Well that's thuh end of that!

 

[hXc_thugg]

You use "an" when the following word starts with a vowel sound. It pops up in front of H words because sometimes there is a vowel sound. house and hospital should be preceeded with "a," however, a word like "hour" should be preceeded with "an."

I think it's actually when the H is pronounced silently and the letter following it is a vowel. Like "An hour", or "an honor"!

 

[Desperado]

I think it's actually when the H is pronounced silently and the letter following it is a vowel. Like "An hour", or "an honor"!

isn't that what he said?

 

[Brannon]

Then there's that "i before e except after c" catastrophe which HUNDREDS of words completely ignore and well, shit.

 

[demon]

Then there's that "i before e except after c" catastrophe which HUNDREDS of words completely ignore and well, shit.

The english language is so fucking inconsistent, it pisses me off.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

Then there's that "i before e except after c" catastrophe which HUNDREDS of words completely ignore and well, shit.

That still pissed me off to this day.

 

[WHOAguitarninja]

I think it's actually when the H is pronounced silently and the letter following it is a vowel. Like "An hour", or "an honor"!

Which is, effectively, the same thing he just said.

 

[belgurdo]

The english language is so fucking inconsistent, it pisses me off.

I always wondered why other languages (like Spanish, Japanese, etc.) always have an exact and permanent structure to them, but English does not.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

If someone says to me "isn't it true that......" Am I supposed to say "Yes, that isn't true"?

 

[GaimeGuy]

I always wondered why other languages (like Spanish, Japanese, etc.) always have an exact and permanent structure to them, but English does not.

Well, there's exceptions to rules in every language, but English, by far, has the most inconsistencies out of any language

 

[Brannon]

I think they're saying "Is it not true that so and so did this?"

Then you can respond with "Yes, it's true", or "No it's not true".

 

[Desperado]

err...the other way around, right?

"is it not true..."

yes, it's not true.

no, it's true.


ahhh

 

[GaimeGuy]

I think they're saying "Is it not true that so and so did this?"

Then you can respond with "Yes, it's true", or "No it's not true".

Is it not true?

Yes, it's not true.

No, it IS true.



blah *boom*

 

[Brannon]

Well damn...

 

[kablooey]

I think DJ was right the first time...when you say "isn't it" you're kind of insinuating that you think whatever you're talking about is true. Like, for instance:

"isn't it true that Xbox is da bomba*?"

"Yes, it is true.."
or
"No, it's not true."

*just a random example. no offense to xbots intended*

(Though for the most part I think you have to actually pay attention to voice inflections and such in these kinds of cases...)

 

[olimario]

Our language has evolved to accept "isn't it" as "is it".

 

[Tarazet]

Well, there's exceptions to rules in every language, but English, by far, has the most inconsistencies out of any language

That's because we Americans have never been able to spell. When in doubt, we use whatever the fuck spelling we want to...

 

[the year 20XX]

That's because we Americans have never been able to spell. When in doubt, we use whatever the fuck spelling we want to...

Yes, that is the reason for the lack of strict grammatical rules in English! It's completely because of Americans using inconsistent spelling!

 

[Drozmight]

The dude abides.

 

[pestul]

Why let such an trivial thing bother you?

 

[Monk]

The English language is the way it is now because the people who added to it were lazy asses. They find a new word in another country and they spell it any damn way they like. For examply pyjama came from India.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

Our language has evolved to accept "isn't it" as "is it".

thats what I figured, but if a lawyer said it in court and said to you "isn't it true...." and you responded with "Yes, that isn't true" would that make him look like a dumbass, or you?

 

[MIMIC]

Also, "an" is used to precede other words that begin with vowel sounds, such as "an SAT exam."

 

[demon]

Also, "an" is used to precede other words that begin with vowel sounds, such as "an SAT exam."

As it should. It's more of a phonetic thing than anything else. I took Italian and was surprised to learn how many spelling/etc. rules were built around phonetics alone.

 

[Turkeybased]

Not only that, but why is "an" used to preceed certain titles? For instance. An S.S Corvette? Yet, when fully spoken "this is a super sport Corvette." Or is it a part of living in the south

little heaven in hell: Austin, TX

 

[demon]

Not only that, but why is "an" used to preceed certain titles? For instance. An S.S Corvette? Yet, when fully spoken "this is a super sport Corvette." Or is it a part of living in the south

little heaven in hell: Austin, TX

Phonetics. "An es es", "A Super Sport".

 

[Papi]

Then there's that "i before e except after c" catastrophe which HUNDREDS of words completely ignore and well, shit.

The whole poem is actually longer and covers most of the exceptions, i think. The first part is "i" before "e" except after "c" and when it has the "a" sound, as in "neighbour" and "weigh" or something something.

 

[Diablos]

Well damn...

:lol :lol