Tropical Fish Forums

[59FIFTY]

Has anyone else other than me ever wondered why your teachers in grade school said that if an article (part of speech) is followed by a vowel the article will be written/said as "an" not "a" (e.g.) instead of saying "I saw an cat" it would be "I saw a cat", or instead of "I have a aquarium" it would be "I have an aquarium" (most likely "I have many aquariums") haha. But anyways back on topic. I was wondering why there are some cases this isnt true. I know it wouldnt sound right otherwise but I was never told that there were any exceptions. The only two I can think of are "Is that a European country?" and "Only females have a uterus" (not too appropriate but it makes sense) My teachers told me that the rule always applies. But that isnt true is it?

side note. What is the only english word with out a vowel. (no cheating)
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In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. - Martin

[unissuh]

Because it's the phonetic sound of the word that governs the use of a/an, not the written letter. Goes the other way from what you describe too - "an hour" for example.

What do you mean only English word without a vowel - written or phonetic? Hymn, rhythm, sky, cry, why, shy, pygmy, myrrh and so on...
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Fishing in the Rivers of Light

[59FIFTY]

tahts true I didn't think of those. and english word without "y"being the "sometimes" vowel.
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In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. - Martin