Where is A and an used?

English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns; a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns. We call the the definite article and a/an the indefinite article. For example, if I say, “Let’s read the book,” I mean a specific book.

Why is it a unique and not an unique?

The actual way of distinguishing where to use either is in the sound of the word, that is, the first syllable. Words whose first syllable has a consonant sound then take up ‘a’. an example of this is unique who first syllable is ‘yoo’ which is not a vowel sound. Therefore, it is ‘a unique’ as opposed to ‘an unique’.

What are the 4 types of determiners?

There are four types of determiner words in the English language. These types are known as articles, demonstratives, possessives, and quantifiers.

Which words are determiners?

Determiners in English

• Definite article : the.
• Indefinite articles : a, an.
• Demonstratives: this, that, these, those.
• Pronouns and possessive determiners : my, your, his, her, its, our, their.
• Quantifiers : a few, a little, much, many, a lot of, most, some, any, enough.
• Numbers : one, ten, thirty.

What is it called when you start a sentence with and?

It’s Fine to Start a Sentence with a Coordinating Conjunction. And, but, and or are the three most common members of a group of words known as coordinating conjunctions.

What is an Oxford comma give an example?

The Oxford (or serial) comma is the final comma in a list of things. For example: Please bring me a pencil, eraser, and notebook. The Oxford comma comes right after eraser. Use of the Oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others don’t.

Why we use a before unique?

“An” is used only when the word it refers to begins with a vowel. The article “a” is used before unique because although unique starts with a vowel, it sounds like a consonant (YU). You only use “an” as the article when the beginning vowel sounds like a vowel, as in “an uncle” or “an umbrella.”

Why don’t we say an unique?

Yes, it’s about the sound – not the written convention. “An” is used to make the transit between vowel sounds smoother. Same rule for “H” words: a horse, an hour… It’s “a unique”, not “an unique”.

Can we use the before name?

You don’t use the before names or proper nouns that identify a person. If the name or proper noun identifies a thing or place, the is used. It’s an article and not part of the name.

Is it proper to start a sentence with and?

It’s perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with “And,” as well as the other words that we are often taught to avoid such as “but” or “or.” Writing samples tracing back to the 9th century, including Bible translations, break these “sacred” rules, which stem from attempts to curb school children from stringing too …

Is a or an before H?

Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage says that “a” is used before consonant SOUNDS, not just consonants. Use “an” when the word following it starts with a vowel or an unsounded “h.” Further, an “an” comes before words with a vowel sound.

Can you say more unique?

Yes, something can properly be called “more unique”. It’s easy to construct an example. You hold a contest asking for “unique barbecue ideas”. The flying, humming barbecue is more unique than the flying barbecue.

Is it correct to say very unique?

“Unique” singles out one of a kind. That “un” at the beginning is a form of “one.” A thing is unique (the only one of its kind) or it is not. Something may be almost unique (there are very few like it), but technically nothing is “very unique,” though this expression is commonly used to mean “highly unusual.”