Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / New
Stats: 3,143,147 members, 7,780,088 topics. Date: Thursday, 28 March 2024 at 09:30 AM

The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? - Education (3) - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Education / The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? (22669 Views)

I Want To Barb My Hair — Is It Correct? / Is It Correct To Use "Take" In Place Of "Teach" / Law School Approves The Use Of Hijab, Invites Fridaus Amasa For Call To Bar (2) (3) (4)

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (Reply) (Go Down)

Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Nobody: 9:00am On Jun 13, 2018
Sapiosexuality:
That's my grouse with English. It is more about how it appeals to the ear than how it appears logically. English Language is not Logical. If the h is silent and shouldn't affect pronunciation, what then is it doing there? Why write it there? What does if add to the language?
Lol it's a language, not logic. That's just how it is. Every language has things that don't really make sense when you think about
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Preye21: 9:01am On Jun 13, 2018
encryptjay:
If the sound that precedes 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
U go school jor grin
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Nobody: 9:02am On Jun 13, 2018
I think the article to be used is determined by the sound of the first syllable and not the presence of a consonant at the beginning. This is how I see it.

1 Like

Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by eitsei(m): 9:02am On Jun 13, 2018
encryptjay:

They make mistakes, just that people get carried away 'cos of their accent.
especially African Americans, you will hear them saying "you don't know nothing" or "I didn't do no wrong" when it should be "I don't know anything" and " I didn't do any wrong"
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by muyiwatosin: 9:02am 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.
wrong!
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Elthugnificent(m): 9:02am On Jun 13, 2018
nabegibeg:



Oga the rule is simple use a for words that begins with h not an whether silent or not. Pls don't complicate it further
Oga no offense intended but please don't be academic lazy. You are wrong, learn to be open minded and learn.

I would be with you in "a hour". Does that in any way sound right to you?
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by nabegibeg: 9:02am On Jun 13, 2018
charlesu49:


Which rule. So for you it'll be; a heir & a honor
SmH

The a is pronounced as used in the pronunciation of the word animal not as in the word Abel

A heir to the throne not an heir to the throne
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by charlesu49(m): 9:02am On Jun 13, 2018
AkpaMgbor:

Not trying to sound tribal but I've also noticed that they are the one who generally make this error(at least on Nigerian blogs and news media)..I guess it has to do with their accent..

Yeah true, I have a lot of yoruba friends. They can't help it.

1 Like

Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Rocktation(f): 9:03am On Jun 13, 2018
femi4:
That's for British not American

British: a hotel

American: an hotel

In both countries and all countries in this life and beyond, it is a hotel. Trust me.

2 Likes

Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by nabegibeg: 9:04am On Jun 13, 2018
Elthugnificent:

Oga no offense intended but please don't be academic lazy. You are wrong, learn to be open minded and learn.

I would be with you in "a hour". Does that in any way sound right to you?


hold your peace and go to work
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by charlesu49(m): 9:05am On Jun 13, 2018
eitsei:
especially African Americans, you will hear them saying "you don't know nothing" or "I didn't do no wrong" when it should be "I don't know anything" and " I didn't do any wrong"

That's informal English
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by charlesu49(m): 9:06am On Jun 13, 2018
Rocktation:


In both countries and all countries in this life and beyond, it is a hotel. Trust me.

Lolz... My dear, tell femi o
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Sapiosexuality(m): 9:09am On Jun 13, 2018
trustyshoess:

Lol it's a language, not logic. That's just how it is. Every language has things that don't really make sense when you think about
True though but a language should make sense. Just like the language of maths and some of our local languages. Why took for take but made for make. I think the logic is in the sound. But even dog would have sounded befitting today if we called a goat by it. Smh. Confused language. Smh.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by charlesu49(m): 9:09am On Jun 13, 2018
nabegibeg:


The a is pronounced as used in the pronunciation of the word animal not as in the word Abel

A heir to the throne not an heir to the throne

Lolz... Please, stop already. You're wrong. I understand it'll be difficult to accept that now, seeing that you have grown used to it, and it has probably served you well. Nonetheless, YOU ARE WRONG.

2 Likes

Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by aribisala0(m): 9:11am On Jun 13, 2018
eitsei:
especially African Americans, you will hear them saying "you don't know nothing" or "I didn't do no wrong" when it should be "I don't know anything" and " I didn't do any wrong"

Is this a problem of grammar or syntax in your opinion?
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Rocktation(f): 9:15am On Jun 13, 2018
aribisala0:
It could be

It depends on the speaker and it is a phenomenon called ELISION

this is present in many laguages
In Britain
Elision may happen as a result of Social/Education class or Regional accent

There are many dialects of English in Britain and the words that they elide is what make them unique. The legitimacy of these variants cannot be impeached

One of the commonest is the word HERE


It is quite common to hear "Come over 'ere"

or 'ello" instead of Hello

This is not to say that the H is silent rather it is ELIDED.

So

Where we say an Hotel the H is ussually ELIDED

Elision could be verbal or written.



Then, that is ALL that should matter, wouldn't you agree?
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by aribisala0(m): 9:17am On Jun 13, 2018
Rocktation:


Then, that is ALL that should matter, wouldn't you agree?
You are not communicating , I cannot read your mind
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Olushauneddy(m): 9:23am On Jun 13, 2018
" This is a hospital " This is an hospital . At times the correct use of English language is basically on how soothing the pronunciation sound goes. Forget about which article is fundamentally formulated for the grammatical expression. A, AN THE.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by jmaxjohn(m): 9:24am On Jun 13, 2018
True,, it also false.
Its called linking and assimilation.
Watch tims workshop by bbc


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.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Osyxcel(m): 9:25am On Jun 13, 2018
Mac2016:
It is like asking if the avoidance of "An" before University is right? It is!

Yes, because words like University, Universal, Union, etc start with the consonant /j/, "a" is used.

Few words like Honest, Honourable, Hour & Heir have silent /h/. Therefore, "an" is used for the vowels that follow the /h/.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by eitsei(m): 9:27am On Jun 13, 2018
aribisala0:


Is this a problem of grammar or syntax in your opinion?
I'm not sure as I'm not a language expert but I think it's syntax
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by cupid0(f): 9:30am On Jun 13, 2018
femi4:
That's for British not American

British: a hotel

American: an hotel

No it's not. Both British and American English pronounces it as a Hotel not an
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Tellemall: 9:31am On Jun 13, 2018
LordsApostle:

exactly my point, I hear things like. "an hospital, an Hotel, an handbook... And I'm like WTF, is it that I don't know English no more... What is happening

Especially here on nairaland everything is "an". Eg. OP is just an useless piece of s**t. An husband is beating a wife and he is supporting it. Even an hotel staffs know it.

Terrible!


Just like when they use "a" for an uncountable thing. Eg. He was just giving a advice. WTH.

Let's not talk about the use of other abominations such as pluralizing singular words. In above example of "an" the person could equally say, OP is just an useless piece of s***ts. shocked I was giving some advices. shocked shocked Even an hotel staffs know it.

Goodness!

Instead of make up products it's "women apply too much makeups". What is the pluralization for?

Nigerians butcher English each time they communicate.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by TEYA: 9:31am On Jun 13, 2018
Tallesty1:
I think an is used when "H" is silent.
It is used when the word pronounce sounds like it starts with a vowel even though it actually starts with a consonant.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Rocktation(f): 9:31am On Jun 13, 2018
aribisala0:
You are not communicating , I cannot read your mind

If you can't understand what I quoted from you, then I'm afraid, that's on you. You said yourself that elisions don't silent the H in words where they arent supposed to be silent...So why mess with a rule which is gospel in writing and in relatively formal speaking?
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Nobody: 9:33am On Jun 13, 2018
VERY CORRECT, AN HERO, AN HOUSE, AN HOLIDAY, AN HOME, AN HONEY
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by okwabayi(m): 9:33am On Jun 13, 2018
muyiwatosin:
wrong!
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by chukxie(m): 9:34am On Jun 13, 2018
okwabayi:
This also reminds me of when an English man used 'have you ate?'. Hear the argument which ensued when I told him it was 'have you eaten?'. He was adamant in telling me it was correct either way, they were both past tense and it doesn't matter sofar the person spoken to understands what was said.

I guess the powers that be [like I mentioned before] have diluted English to make it easy for anyone to pick up.

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.
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by elopee3000(m): 9:35am On Jun 13, 2018
Rocktation:
I also don't think "most sweetest" is legit grammar. undecided....even as a slang...??
is so even with Yoruba or igbo language
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by SoNature(m): 9:35am 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.

Show us proof or forever remain silent

1 Like

Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by aribisala0(m): 9:42am On Jun 13, 2018
Rocktation:


If you can't understand what I quoted from you, then I'm afraid, that's on you. You said yourself that elisions doesn't silent the H in words where they arent supposed to silent...So why mess with a rule which is gospel in writing and in relatively formal speaking?
I did not say that

you are misrepresenting me.
You did not undersstand what you read

Spend a little time to open a dictionary and learn the words ELIDE and ELISION

I do NOT recognize that anything is "supposed to be silent" rather that sounds or letters are dropped i.e ELIDED depending on where the user is from

The concept of a silent H is what is used to teach primary school children

Supposed to be silent acording to whom?

My point is that words are pronounced differently by people across England and all the variants are Legitimate.

That is what I was saying. Read and comprehend

Just like some Igbo people pronounce some Igbo words differently. Ditto for Yorubas if they come from different states

Who then is it that has the authority to say it is "SUPPOSED TO BE PRONOUNCED" one way or another


If a person pronounces Ho tel
it is a Hotel

It they pronounce o tel

it is an otel
Re: The Use Of "An" Before H Sounding Words, Is It Correct? by Nobody: 10:02am On Jun 13, 2018
Rex123:




Actually you are very wrong, so wrong that you are in a deep pit! H is a consonant, H tends to be silent that why people tend to use an instead of a! You use A for H
In a hour to this time, is it correct

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (Reply)

Where Can One Learn German Language / Ipod In Exam Hall: Landmark University Expelled My Friend. What Can He Do? / 30 Haunting Photos Of People Right Before Their Deaths continued from page 4.

(Go Up)

Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health
religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket

Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 52
Disclaimer: Every Nairaland member is solely responsible for anything that he/she posts or uploads on Nairaland.