Grammar Discussions

[rogerkambah]

I'm shocked that the youth of today don't know their Monty Python. In my day we couldn't see python because we had to work down pit for 16 hours a day.

Only 16 hours - ooh, that were luxury.

 

[HarryB]

I made it through a few pages but realised my battery is almost gone so apologies if it's already been covered as I haven't read the whole thread.

"A" or "an" before a word starting with the letter "h"? I always thought it depended on whether the "h" was silent or not. For example "a house" or "a horse" but "an honour" or "an hour".

 

[anat0l]

I made it through a few pages but realised my battery is almost gone so apologies if it's already been covered as I haven't read the whole thread.

"A" or "an" before a word starting with the letter "h"? I always thought it depended on whether the "h" was silent or not. For example "a house" or "a horse" but "an honour" or "an hour".

Correct, "an" before a silent "h", as you have done.

Technically, "an" is used before a vowel sound, whether or not the next word begins with a vowel or a consonant. The reason for this is to prevent the "stop" you could experience if you were to pronounce "a" and a vowel sound following it, e.g. trying pronouncing "a orange" versus "an orange".

So some obvious ones like "a place to live", "a very good idea" and so on; then "an idea to rock your world", "an ultimatum to change everything we know", etc.

Then, we have "an hour until lunch" and "an heir to the throne", but then we have "a horrible situation" and "a hatching egg".

Finally, to demonstrate it's about the sound, "a one-off promotion", "a uniformed officer" and "an SOS call" (where in the last case, the noun after "an" is pronounced as "es-oh-es").

 

[froggerADL]

Correct, "an" before a silent "h", as you have done.

Technically, "an" is used before a vowel sound, whether or not the next word begins with a vowel or a consonant. The reason for this is to prevent the "stop" you could experience if you were to pronounce "a" and a vowel sound following it, e.g. trying pronouncing "a orange" versus "an orange".

So some obvious ones like "a place to live", "a very good idea" and so on; then "an idea to rock your world", "an ultimatum to change everything we know", etc.

Then, we have "an hour until lunch" and "an heir to the throne", but then we have "a horrible situation" and "a hatching egg".

Finally, to demonstrate it's about the sound, "a one-off promotion", "a uniformed officer" and "an SOS call" (where in the last case, the noun after "an" is pronounced as "es-oh-es").

My head hurts

 

[Julesmac]

You need to go and watch some Python episodes then!

 

[Anna]

Have we covered imply / infer yet?

Or how 'rapt' is the correct spelling of 'I was wrapped / rapped to read that post'?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Correct, "an" before a silent "h", as you have done.

I prefer 'an' hotel, but there are some other exceptions which are more readily used, including an historical event.

 

[get me outta here]

I agree, and find it easier when speaking, to get the mouth around, "is she going to a hotel?"

I prefer 'an' hotel, but there are some other exceptions which are more readily used, including an historical event.

 

[Warks]

News reporters thought they were being cultured some years ago by saying "It was an historic moment when..."
They ended up sounding like people who call Moet 'Moey'.

 

[get me outta here]

Yesbut, I do like the " ... an historic moment...". It's too hard to say,'a historic moment'.

 

[JessicaTam]

Yesbut, I do like the " ... an historic moment...". It's too hard to say,'a historic moment'.

An 'istoric moment?

 

[HarryB]

Yesbut, I do like the " ... an historic moment...". It's too hard to say,'a historic moment'.

Are you from from the East End? Innit

 

[whatmeworry]

Yes, that one really is an issue for me. The use of either one in the correct context explains what one means very well, unless you get it wrong.

I am reminded of a supervisor I was talking to once who said he had a worker who was his Achilles Heel, when I knew he meant that he considered the worker to be an asset.

the worker

I remember in primary school and my teacher said "people in glass houses should not throw stones".

Had to ask her an explanation, as when you young or not familiar with a saying it can be confusing what is actually being said.

 

[whatmeworry]

Not exactly grammar, but consider the pronunciation of these two words - phone, tic.

Now join the words - phonetic. When joined the pronunciation is completely different, you dont say phone-tick.

In primary school we got a teacher to say "Maths Debate" 5 times as fast as fast as she could ...

She went very red once she realised what it sounded like

 

[anat0l]

In primary school we got a teacher to say "Maths Debate" 5 times as fast as fast as she could ...

She went very red once she realised what it sounded like she was saying.

A similar thing in the playground is to ask your friends to say repeatedly, "I felt smart".

 

[get me outta here]

OK, I'm brave so I'll ask, I said it quite a few times very fast and I don't get it.

A similar thing in the playground is to ask your friends to say repeatedly, "I felt smart".

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK, I'm brave so I'll ask, I said it quite a few times very fast and I don't get it.

transposition of the F and S

 

[get me outta here]

As some people say, OMG.

transposition of the F and S

 

[Warks]

Someone wrote "Far canal" on the blackboard once. Took us a while to start sniggering uncontrollably.

 

[Rox]

Qld uni had a light racing boat "sharpie, I think?) proudly emblazoned on its polished wooden hull,with "pheasant plucker"