3 ms·
I presume the distinction between definite and indefinite articles aren't the problem -- is it the usage of 'a' vs 'an' that's problematic? AIUI if the word so
by Jedd 6y ago
I presume the distinction between definite and indefinite articles aren't the problem -- is it the usage of 'a' vs 'an' that's problematic?
AIUI if the word sounds like it starts with a vowel sound, it's an an. If not, it's an a.
I have to say a word (or abbreviation, or acronym) out loud very occasionally to determine if 'an' is appropriate -- and reading the writing of North American english speakers throws me when an 'an' is used in front of a word that, in my head, starts with a consonant sound.
The obvious example being 'an herb' - because in Australia (and indeed England) the h is pronounced, consequently it would normally be 'a herb'.
There are minor mental flurries with abbreviations that some people pronounce differently, I'm sure.
- hamilyon2 6y agoNo, it is the distinction between definite, indefinite and no article at all. Coming from a language that has no articles at all, it was by far the hardest thing to learn. Hard rules about where you should and shouldn't put articles are few. The rest is pure feeling and experience.
- ghaff 6y agoYeah, as a native English speaker. Articles are among the many things I often tweak when I do a final pass through something I've written. And, if you were looking over my shoulder and asked "Why?" about the changes, a lot of the time I'd probably shrug and say "It sounds better" or "It flows better."