特殊冠詞 Article 的用法

Heartfelt

2011-10-18 7:58 am

1. What is that machine for ? It can take an X-ray of a person's chest.
Why we used article "an" for the above answer ?

2. You have left an "s" in the word "succession".
Why we used article "an" for the above answer ?

3. My father has bought a used car from a friend.
Why we used article "a" for the above answer ?

Tks

回答 (1)

ginger2011

2011-10-18 4:25 pm

✔ 最佳答案

The choice of using the articles "a" or "an" depends on the sound (as pronounced) of the countable noun that follows, but not the first letter of the noun.
Rules:
(1) Use "an" as the correct article, when the following noun pronounces a vowel sound on the first syllable;
(2) Use "a" otherwise.

Example:
1. X-ray: the first syllable sounds as [eks] which is a vowel sound, so you use article "an".
2. "s": it sounds as [es] which is also a vowel sound, so you use article "a".
3. used car: the first syllable sounds as [ju:] which is not a vowel sound, so you use the article "a" instead.

2011-10-21 11:08:53 補充：
Sorry, it was my typing mistake:

2. "s": it sounds as [es] which is also a vowel sound, so you use article "an".

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