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The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? - Education (5) - Nairaland

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Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by enemyofprogress: 12:25pm On Jun 13, 2018
Abeg use anyone that comes to your mouth, English is not our language jo
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by okwabayi(m): 12:41pm On Jun 13, 2018
Oyibo don talk another one o. I'm watching a police TV show and they used the word 'verbatimly'. I know it's inaccurate because a lot of english 'bombs' have gotten thrown back and forth -- the subjects are Americans from the south so their grammar isn't as polished as mainstream usage.

Omoh, I've given up. F-uck the white man and their language. Na pidgin sure pass.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Deffwill(m): 1:29pm On Jun 13, 2018
okwabayi:

True but the BBC which to my knowledge uses the most updated English grammar always state "an historic event".

I believe English is evolving. The presence of non English, born in the UK speakers (Pakistani, Indian, Chinese and Thai etc) and youth influence in the form of slangs has made some earlier frowned upon practices an everyday occurence.

I seriously doubt it bro.., go check again.., An Historic ? no way...

guests or interviewee maybe, but not BBC staff.., Not even Peter Okwoche.

Maybe some correspondents from Somalia, Uganda etc... But it's still wrong bro
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Deffwill(m): 1:32pm On Jun 13, 2018
lawak:


good job ...but I think it's an hospital

No bro.., it's A Hospital
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by okwabayi(m): 1:38pm On Jun 13, 2018
Deffwill:


I seriously doubt it bro.., go check again.., An Historic ? no way...

guests or interviewee maybe, but not BBC staff.., Not even Peter Okwoche.

Maybe some correspondents from Somalia, Uganda etc... But it's still wrong bro
No way. BBC staff. It's the reason the usage has refused to leave my head. I watch the channel a lot so it's not a one time thing.

Another I heard once was 'killed by a machete' and not 'killed with a machete'. The latter error was a one time thing so I guess the presenter made an unconscious mistake.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Jesusgirl92(f): 1:58pm On Jun 13, 2018
chigo4u:

A heir not an heir tho
An heir.... Check your dictionary.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Ten06(m): 2:21pm On Jun 13, 2018
encryptjay:
If the sound that succeeds it, is consonant, use 'a' but if it's a vowel sound, use 'an'.
In simpler words, if 'h' is silent during pronunciation, use 'an' for example
An honour
An heir
An hour
For non-silent 'h', use 'a'.
A horse
A herd
A hospital.

It's an honour to meet with you.
This is a hospital

I think I've heard, "an husband" before. grin
#Clap!! #Clap!! #Clap!!!
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by olmoRoc: 3:26pm On Jun 13, 2018
encryptjay:

They make mistakes, just that people get carried away 'cos of their accent.

There are standard versions of both American English and English English. When you watch BBC or CNN news, and listen to BBC radio or VOA news, and the Queen, you hear the standard versions of both. It wasn't different from watching Yinka Craig and Cyril Stuber (spelling), as well as their colleagues in those days. They spoke proper English. However, there are other variants or dialects of English spoken by English speakers in the US and the UK.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by nazablossom(f): 4:53pm On Jun 13, 2018
LordsApostle:

Hello my house,
From basic knowledge, we know "an" is used for words beginning with vowel sounds, like
an aeroplane, an ark, an envelope

However, I often hear people use "an" for words starting with "H" , We know H is a consonant ; so please how correct is this?
I always hear people use the "an" for words starting with "H"
an Hotel, an Handbook etc.

That is suppose to be a grammatical blunder if u ask me, from basic knowledge, but what do I know.

I know we have linguistic experts here... Please, I'll need your input and clarifications on this...

Thank you.
check very well, people that are having problem in using the article "an" on "h" are Yoruba people because they can't pronounce a word that has "H" correctly. They tends to make the "H" silent thereby using article "an" in place of "a". Just like some parts of
South East that finds it difficult pronouncing words with "L" and "R".

But like others have said, there are some word with silent 'h".
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by LordsApostle: 5:16pm On Jun 13, 2018
Why should he trust you? Are u his wife?
Rocktation:


In both countries and all countries in this life and beyond, it is a hotel. Trust me.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by LordsApostle: 5:26pm On Jun 13, 2018
chukxie:


Never back done from such an argument regardless of who you're arguing with. The 'Olodo' English man was wrong. The verb 'have' is always preceded by the past particle of the main verb in the sentence.
E.g. Have you eaten? ( "Have you ate" is wrong)
Have you seen Chukxie?
I have smoked weed before.

I believe u meant succeeded , Not preceded...
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Rocktation(f): 5:58pm On Jun 13, 2018
.There can only be one baseline for Standard English..and that is the variety of English as spoken by the English people and used as the "NATIONAL" norm and as the language for public and formal usage. Plus its received pronunciation accent. Every other variant construction is officially non-standard. Only the society's educated layer associates with standard English anyway and it is upheld via educational systems, until forever. So if anybody chooses to entertain other variants for formal usage, just so they can patronize the minority "other sons of the English soil", they do so at their personal discretion.
As regards American English, Australian English and what not, they have no developmental influence on the Standard English, historically. So technically, there is no such thing as American English and Scottish English and blah...As in seriously, no serious credence should even be given them as these countries, do not even speak English originally, so how can they now have Standard versions of English for crying out loud?
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Rocktation(f): 6:06pm On Jun 13, 2018
LordsApostle:
Why should he trust you? Are u his wife?

Revel in the news that I have helped push your topic to the home page today, but don't quote me nonsensically, in a bid to keep it going.
Please.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by VolvoS60(m): 6:40pm On Jun 13, 2018
grin

Funny yet interesting thread.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Caseless: 6:55pm On Jun 13, 2018
encryptjay:
If the sound that succeeds it, is consonant, use 'a' but if it's a vowel sound, use 'an'.
In simpler words, if 'h' is silent during pronunciation, use 'an' for example
An honour
An heir
An hour
For non-silent 'h', use 'a'.
A horse
A herd
A hospital.

It's an honour to meet with you.
This is a hospital

I think I've heard, "an husband" before. grin

"it's a great honour to meet you", wrong? "H" is silent in "honest", too.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by encryptjay(m): 7:37pm On Jun 13, 2018
Caseless:


"it's a great honour to meet you", wrong? "H" is silent in "honest", too.
Yup, an honest opinion.
Could you elucidate on your first sentence?
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by LordsApostle: 7:51pm On Jun 13, 2018
What's that suppose to mean? Madam stop that trash, do I look like I earn my living from NL? U are just calling my knowledge to the topic being on the front page, how does that affect what I eat next or even what I earn? Do u pay me for my topic being on front page, how does that affect me. Please don't bring inconsequentialities into sound reasoning... Stop being assuming and condescending it's stupid.. I believe u think being a mod on this virtual forum and moving topics to FP is a huge achievement , young girl Come down from your high horse and be reasonable...

Nonsense.
Rocktation:


Revel in the news that I have helped push your topic to the home page today, but don't quote me nonsensically, in a bid to keep it going.
Please.

1 Like

Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by IamD18: 8:52pm On Jun 13, 2018
MissJoy29
Your question
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by kyella(f): 9:41pm On Jun 13, 2018
eniorisha:
Nah odo dey taught u or u learnt wrongly. What most English non native users don't realise is dt anything dt has to do with phonetics is treated @ d deep level not surface level. That's pronunciation rather than spelling. Your teacher talked about spoken not written or spelling. I guess u will be more confused if u hear or read sth like 'a European country'? At pronounciatn level, 'European' starts with 'j' as d letter is silent
i don't know Wat u re talking about... and I think it is an European country not a European country..
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Rocktation(f): 11:09pm On Jun 13, 2018
LordsApostle:
What's that suppose to mean? Madam stop that trash, do I look like I earn my living from NL? U are just calling my knowledge to the topic being on the front page, how does that affect what I eat next or even what I earn? Do u pay me for my topic being on front page, how does that affect me. Please don't bring inconsequentialities into sound reasoning... Stop being assuming and condescending it's stupid.. I believe u think being a mod on this virtual forum and moving topics to FP is a huge achievement , young girl Come down from your high horse and be reasonable...

Nonsense.

And you're the self-acclaimed big boy on NL, whose big-boy-head is not indicative of a big brain, as your version of sound reasoning is to make disparaging comments; equating my asking someone to trust me, to mean I should be his wife and calling me a young girl, when I'm pretty sure I'm older than your elder brother. Clap for yourself, you, who is not being assuming and yet assumed I literally pushed your thread to the home page...SMH. Hey, be whatever kind of achiever you say you are. They are not my hallucinations, so I really can't be bothered, but don't expect every foolish remark you make to meet with e-hugs and kisses, especially when you really have no idea of the kind of person you are attempting to shade.

And that is all there is to the session, I struggled to open for you, big boy. Good day! kiss

1 Like

Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by chukxie(m): 2:28am On Jun 14, 2018
LordsApostle:


I believe u meant succeeded , Not preceded...

Preceded by = come before.
Succeeded by = come after.
What's confusing you, sir?
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Caseless: 5:59am On Jun 14, 2018
encryptjay:

Yup, an honest opinion.
Could you elucidate on your first sentence?
that first sentence sounds right, but your example says otherwise. I just needed you to educate me more.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by encryptjay(m): 6:29am On Jun 14, 2018
Caseless:
that first sentence sounds right, but your example says otherwise. I just needed you to educate me more.
It is correct boss. I tried to stress on the usage of 'an' in my example but yours carried the adjective 'great' before the honour hence the usage of 'a great'.
Both are correct statements.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Caseless: 6:31am On Jun 14, 2018
encryptjay:

It is correct boss. I tried to stress on the usage of 'an' in my example but yours carried the adjective 'great' before the honour hence the usage of 'a great'.
Both are correct statements.
correct!
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by encryptjay(m): 6:38am On Jun 14, 2018
kyella:
i don't know Wat u re talking about... and I think it is an European country not a European country..
It's 'a' European country not an European country. The first sound is a consonant sound.

1 Like

Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by encryptjay(m): 6:43am On Jun 14, 2018
Rocktation:


And you're the self-acclaimed big boy on NL, whose big-boy-head is not indicative of a big brain, as your version of sound reasoning is to make disparaging comments; equating my asking someone to trust me, to mean I should be his wife and calling me a young girl, when I'm pretty sure I'm older than your elder brother. Clap for yourself, you, who is not being assuming and yet assumed I literally pushed your thread to the home page...SMH. Hey, be whatever kind of achiever you say you are. They are not my hallucinations, so I really can't be bothered, but don't expect every foolish remark you make to meet with e-hugs and kisses, especially when you really have no idea of the kind of person you are attempting to shade.

And that is all there is to the session, I struggled to open for you, big boy. Good day! kiss
That boyfriend/husband statement was sarcasm grin
Or you guys clashed swords after this thread before?
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by MissJoy29(f): 11:23am On Jun 14, 2018
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by LordsApostle: 6:29pm On Jun 14, 2018
She gets wet seeing my moniker... Don't know why..
encryptjay:

That boyfriend/husband statement was sarcasm grin
Or you guys clashed swords after this thread before?
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by okwabayi(m): 10:52pm On Jul 18, 2018
I just heard another one on today's BBC Hardtalk episode "Donald Trump has exposed an hypocrisy in Germany.". I have written my hands off. This one pass mistake. I believe the an-before-consonant is something some people use depending on their elementary education. They keep using it so long it becomes part of them.
I guess I'll only speak English the best way it sounds to me, standards can go to hell.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by okwabayi(m): 11:02pm On Jul 18, 2018
Deffwill:


I seriously doubt it bro.., go check again.., An Historic ? no way...

guests or interviewee maybe, but not BBC staff.., Not even Peter Okwoche.

Maybe some correspondents from Somalia, Uganda etc... But it's still wrong bro
If it was from interviewees I would have seen no problem with it. I've seen many guests and foreign correspondents throw grammatical bombs on the channel. It's not a new thing. It's the reporters who use the an-before-consonant thing the most.

Today's own was by Stephen Sackur himself. I believe the mistake is made by UK public school graduates who weren't taught the proper use of grammar.

1 Like

Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by overboard(m): 4:10pm On Jul 27, 2018
encryptjay:
If the sound that succeeds it, is consonant, use 'a' but if it's a vowel sound, use 'an'.
In simpler words, if 'h' is silent during pronunciation, use 'an' for example
An honour
An heir
An hour
For non-silent 'h', use 'a'.
A horse
A herd
A hospital.

It's an honour to meet with you.
This is a hospital

I think I've heard, "an husband" before. grin

Its an honour to quote you!
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by encryptjay(m): 6:27pm On Jul 27, 2018
overboard:

Its an honour to quote you!
Hehehe...the honour is mine bro.

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