Believe it or not,
the a/an rule does not
state that an
precedes words that begin with vowels. Nor
does it state that a
precedes words that begin with consonants.
The rule states that an
is used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
and that a is
used before a word beginning with a consonant sound.
Explanation:
You cannot rely on what appears to be a vowel or
what appears to be a consonant to make your
decision. You have to listen
before deciding whether to use a
or an before a
word, letter, or number (digit). You must
ask yourself if the beginning sound seems like a
vowel or a consonant sound. It's pronunciation,
not appearance, that determines which article (a
or an) to use.
