LostInAnomie
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 12:58 AM
Original message |
A question about the universe. |
|
Using proper grammar whenever a word begins with a vowel you should use an "an" in front of it instead of an "a". Why does this not work for the "universe" or "universal"?
"I created an universe in my fishtank." "He has an universal knowledge about stuff."
It just doesn't sound right... Dammit!!!
|
Droopy
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:02 AM
Response to Original message |
1. I thought your question was going to entail |
|
deep thoughts about the nature of our existence. I might be able to help to out in that regard, but I don't have an answer for this question.
|
LostInAnomie
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:05 AM
Response to Reply #1 |
|
Nobody would have looked if I would have titled it "Grammar Question"
|
DieboldMustDie
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:15 AM
Response to Reply #2 |
6. And nobody would have come to rescue you... |
|
if you hollered "chocolate!" ;)
|
LostInAnomie
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:19 AM
Response to Reply #6 |
|
if I yelled "Help Me!!! With all this Chocolate!!!"
|
Syrinx
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:08 AM
Response to Original message |
3. Because the 'U' sounds like a 'Y' |
|
Even though 'Y' is sometimes considered a vowel? :shrug:
|
LostInAnomie
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:15 AM
Response to Reply #3 |
7. Sounds like a "U" to me |
Syrinx
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:18 AM
Response to Reply #7 |
8. it's got a little 'Y' action going too |
parasim
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:09 AM
Response to Original message |
4. Weird the other way too... |
|
"He is an honest person." "It is an halibut."
goofy language...
|
Book Lover
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:11 AM
Response to Original message |
|
Edited on Wed May-12-04 01:14 AM by Book Lover
The choice between "a" and "an" is determined by the sound of the following word; "universe" begins with a non-vowel sound.
on edit: the letter "y" represents different sounds, both vowel and consonant; has to do with the history of the orthography of English.
|
Dookus
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:18 AM
Response to Original message |
|
It's not about letters - it's about sounds.
"Universe" begins with a consonant sound: y
Conversely, "H" is a consonant, but "honor" begins with a vowel sound, and thus "an honor".
|
LostInAnomie
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:22 AM
Response to Reply #9 |
|
but I will refuse to listen to your answer because you stole "My cat's breath smells like cat food" from me the other day.
|
Dookus
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:26 AM
Response to Reply #11 |
|
ya gotta type fast around here.
|
LostInAnomie
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:28 AM
Response to Reply #12 |
|
someday. Revenge is a dish best served cold.:evilgrin:
|
Eccho
(139 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Wed May-12-04 01:35 AM
Response to Original message |
14. Where does this rule come from? |
|
Edited on Wed May-12-04 01:38 AM by Eccho
Off the top of my head, I can think of examples like: "Let's get an early start".
Also: "It's a universal idea that the moon orbits the earth."
|
DU
AdBot (1000+ posts) |
Fri May 03rd 2024, 03:37 PM
Response to Original message |