Difference between A and AN
|
Article |
Used Before |
Example |
|
A |
consonant sound |
a book, a university |
|
AN |
vowel sound |
an apple, an hour |
Sound matters, not
spelling
- an hour (silent
“h”)
- a university (starts
with “you” sound)
In English, letters
and sounds are different.
- Letters are written
symbols (A–Z).
- Sounds are the way
we pronounce those letters (phonemes).
English has 26
letters but about 44 sounds:
- 20 vowel
sounds
- 24 consonant
sounds
Below are
detailed tables.
1. Vowel
Letters in English
There are 5
main vowel letters.
अंग्रेजीका Vowel Letters को तालिका
|
Vowel Letter |
English Word |
Pronunciation |
Nepali Meaning |
|
A |
Apple |
एप्पल |
स्याउ |
|
E |
Elephant |
एलिफेन्ट |
हात्ती |
|
I |
Ink |
इन्क |
मसी |
|
O |
Orange |
ओरिन्ज |
सुन्तला |
|
U |
Umbrella |
अम्ब्रेला |
छाता |
नेपाली स्वरहरू (Vowel Letters)
|
Nepali |
English |
|
अ |
a |
|
आ |
aa |
|
इ |
i |
|
ई |
ee |
|
उ |
u |
|
ऊ |
oo |
|
ए |
e |
|
ऐ |
ai |
|
ओ |
o |
|
औ |
au |
|
अं |
am |
|
अः |
ah |
2. Vowel
Sounds in English (20 Sounds)
|
No |
Vowel Sound |
Example Word |
Nepali Meaning |
|
1 |
/iː/ |
see |
देख्नु |
|
2 |
/ɪ/ |
sit |
बस्नु |
|
3 |
/e/ |
pen |
कलम |
|
4 |
/æ/ |
cat |
बिरालो |
|
5 |
/ʌ/ |
cup |
कप |
|
6 |
/ɑː/ |
car |
कार |
|
7 |
/ɒ/ |
hot |
तातो |
|
8 |
/ɔː/ |
law |
कानुन |
|
9 |
/ʊ/ |
put |
राख्नु |
|
10 |
/uː/ |
food |
खाना |
|
11 |
/ɜː/ |
bird |
चरा |
|
12 |
/ə/ |
about |
बारेमा |
|
13 |
/eɪ/ |
day |
दिन |
|
14 |
/aɪ/ |
time |
समय |
|
15 |
/ɔɪ/ |
boy |
केटा |
|
16 |
/aʊ/ |
now |
अहिले |
|
17 |
/əʊ/ |
go |
जानु |
|
18 |
/ɪə/ |
here |
यहाँ |
|
19 |
/eə/ |
hair |
कपाल |
|
20 |
/ʊə/ |
tour |
भ्रमण |
These are divided
into:
- 12
Monophthongs (single vowel sounds)
- 8 Diphthongs
(two vowel sounds together)
3.
Consonant Letters in English
There are 21
consonant letters.
Consonant Letters in English and Nepali
|
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|
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|
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Consonant Letters in English and Nepali
|
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|
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Consonant Letters in English and Nepali
|
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|
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Consonant Letters in English and Nepali
|
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|
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Consonant Letters in English and Nepali
|
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|
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Consonant Letters in English and Nepali
|
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|
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Consonant Letters in English and Nepali
|
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|
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Consonant Letters in English and Nepali
|
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|
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Consonant Letters in English and Nepali
|
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|
Example words:
|
Letter |
Word |
Nepali
Meaning |
|
B |
Ball |
बल |
|
C |
Cat |
बिरालो |
|
D |
Dog |
कुकुर |
|
F |
Fish |
माछा |
|
G |
Goat |
बाख्रा |
4.
Consonant Sounds in English (24 Sounds)
|
No |
Sound |
Example |
Nepali
Meaning |
|
1 |
/p/ |
pen |
कलम |
|
2 |
/b/ |
bag |
झोला |
|
3 |
/t/ |
tea |
चिया |
|
4 |
/d/ |
dog |
कुकुर |
|
5 |
/k/ |
cat |
बिरालो |
|
6 |
/g/ |
go |
जानु |
|
7 |
/f/ |
fish |
माछा |
|
8 |
/v/ |
van |
गाडी |
|
9 |
/θ/ |
think |
सोच्नु |
|
10 |
/ð/ |
this |
यो |
|
11 |
/s/ |
sun |
घाम |
|
12 |
/z/ |
zoo |
चिडियाखाना |
|
13 |
/ʃ/ |
she |
उनी |
|
14 |
/ʒ/ |
vision |
दृष्टि |
|
15 |
/tʃ/ |
chair |
कुर्सी |
|
16 |
/dʒ/ |
job |
काम |
|
17 |
/m/ |
man |
मान्छे |
|
18 |
/n/ |
nose |
नाक |
|
19 |
/ŋ/ |
sing |
गाउनु |
|
20 |
/l/ |
love |
माया |
|
21 |
/r/ |
red |
रातो |
|
22 |
/j/ |
yes |
हो |
|
23 |
/w/ |
water |
पानी |
|
24 |
/h/ |
hat |
टोपी |
5.
Summary Table
|
Category |
Number |
|
Total Letters |
26 |
|
Vowel Letters |
5 |
|
Consonant
Letters |
21 |
|
Vowel Sounds |
20 |
|
Consonant
Sounds |
24 |
|
Total Sounds |
44 |
Simple
Rule
- Vowels = sounds
produced without blocking air.
Example: a, e, i, o, u - Consonants = sounds
produced with blocking air by lips, teeth, or tongue.
Example: b, c, d,
f, g
Fill in the Blanks with “A” or “An” (50 Questions)
Choose the correct article a
or an to complete the sentences.
1.
She bought ___ apple from the market.
2.
He is ___ honest man.
3.
I saw ___ elephant in the zoo.
4.
She wants to become ___ engineer.
5.
He found ___ old coin on the road.
6.
My father is ___ teacher.
7.
I need ___ umbrella today.
8.
She is ___ university student.
9.
He drank ___ glass of milk.
10. I
saw ___ owl in the tree.
11. She
has ___ idea about the plan.
12. He
is ___ doctor in the hospital.
13. I
read ___ interesting book yesterday.
14. She
bought ___ orange from the shop.
15. He
wants to be ___ actor.
16. I
saw ___ accident on the highway.
17. She
has ___ pet dog.
18. He
ate ___ egg for breakfast.
19. I
met ___ European tourist yesterday.
20. She
wore ___ uniform to school.
21. He
is ___ intelligent boy.
22. I
bought ___ house near the river.
23. She
gave me ___ useful suggestion.
24. He
is ___ MLA in our district.
25. I
saw ___ ant on the table.
26. She
is ___ artist.
27. He
wrote ___ letter to his friend.
28. I
saw ___ unusual bird in the forest.
29. She
is ___ nurse in the clinic.
30. He
wants to buy ___ car.
31. I
saw ___ eagle flying in the sky.
32. She
is ___ MBA student.
33. He
has ___ bike.
34. I
need ___ hour to finish the work.
35. She
ate ___ ice cream.
36. He
is ___ farmer.
37. I
saw ___ igloo in the picture.
38. She
wants ___ pen.
39. He
found ___ old book in the library.
40. I
met ___ American student yesterday.
41. She
has ___ umbrella in her bag.
42. He
bought ___ laptop yesterday.
43. I
saw ___ injured dog on the road.
44. She
wants ___ orange dress.
45. He
is ___ honest officer.
46. I
met ___ MP yesterday.
47. She
has ___ beautiful house.
48. He
wants ___ idea for his project.
49. I
saw ___ elephant in Chitwan National Park.
50. She
wrote ___ email to her teacher.
Fill in the Blanks with “A” or “An” – Answers with Reasons
Rule:
·
A
is used before a consonant sound.
·
An
is used before a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u)
or silent “h”.
1.
She bought an apple
from the market.
Reason: Apple
begins with the vowel sound /æ/.
2.
He is an honest man.
Reason: h
in honest is silent → vowel sound /ɒ/.
3.
I saw an elephant in the
zoo.
Reason: Elephant
starts with vowel e.
4.
She wants to become an engineer.
Reason: Engineer
begins with vowel sound /e/.
5.
He found an old coin
on the road.
Reason: Old
begins with vowel o.
6.
My father is a teacher.
Reason: Teacher
begins with consonant sound t.
7.
I need an umbrella today.
Reason: Umbrella
starts with vowel u (ʌ sound).
8.
She is a university student.
Reason: University
begins with /yu/ sound (consonant sound).
9.
He drank a glass
of milk.
Reason: Glass
begins with consonant g.
10. I
saw an owl in the tree.
Reason: Owl
begins with vowel o.
11. She
has an idea about the plan.
Reason: Idea
begins with vowel i.
12. He
is a doctor in the hospital.
Reason: Doctor
starts with consonant d.
13. I
read an interesting book yesterday.
Reason: Interesting
begins with vowel i.
14. She
bought an orange from the shop.
Reason: Orange
begins with vowel o.
15. He
wants to be an actor.
Reason: Actor
begins with vowel a.
16. I
saw an accident on the highway.
Reason: Accident
starts with vowel a.
17. She
has a pet dog.
Reason: Pet
begins with consonant p.
18. He
ate an egg for breakfast.
Reason: Egg
begins with vowel e.
19. I
met a European tourist yesterday.
Reason: European
begins with /yu/ sound
(consonant sound).
20. She
wore a uniform to school.
Reason: Uniform
begins with /yu/ sound.
21. He
is an intelligent boy.
Reason: Intelligent
begins with vowel i.
22. I
bought a house near the river.
Reason: House
begins with consonant h
(pronounced).
23. She
gave me a useful suggestion.
Reason: Useful
begins with /yu/ sound.
24. He
is an MLA in our district.
Reason: M
is pronounced /em/ (vowel
sound).
25. I
saw an ant on the table.
Reason: Ant
begins with vowel a.
26. She
is an artist.
Reason: Artist
begins with vowel a.
27. He
wrote a letter to his friend.
Reason: Letter
begins with consonant l.
28. I
saw an unusual bird in the forest.
Reason: Unusual
begins with vowel sound ʌ.
29. She
is a nurse in the clinic.
Reason: Nurse
begins with consonant n.
30. He
wants to buy a car.
Reason: Car
begins with consonant c.
31. I
saw an eagle flying in the sky.
Reason: Eagle
begins with vowel e.
32. She
is an MBA student.
Reason: M
is pronounced /em/ (vowel
sound).
33. He
has a bike.
Reason: Bike
begins with consonant b.
34. I
need an hour to finish the work.
Reason: Hour
has silent h.
35. She
ate an ice cream.
Reason: Ice
begins with vowel i.
36. He
is a farmer.
Reason: Farmer
begins with consonant f.
37. I
saw an igloo in the picture.
Reason: Igloo
begins with vowel i.
38. She
wants a pen.
Reason: Pen
begins with consonant p.
39. He
found an old book in the library.
Reason: Old
begins with vowel o.
40. I
met an American student yesterday.
Reason: American
begins with vowel a.
41. She
has an umbrella in her bag.
Reason: Umbrella
begins with vowel u.
42. He
bought a laptop yesterday.
Reason: Laptop
begins with consonant l.
43. I
saw an injured dog on the road.
Reason: Injured
begins with vowel i.
44. She
wants an orange dress.
Reason: Orange
begins with vowel o.
45. He
is an honest officer.
Reason: Honest
has silent h.
46. I
met an MP yesterday.
Reason: M
pronounced /em/.
47. She
has a beautiful house.
Reason: Beautiful
begins with consonant b.
48. He
wants an idea for his project.
Reason: Idea
begins with vowel i.
49. I
saw an elephant in Chitwan National Park.
Reason: Elephant
begins with vowel e.
50. She
wrote an email to her teacher.
Reason: Email
begins with vowel e.
