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Ask for help > How do you explain the use of the article ´A ´ with words like "UNIVERSITY"?
How do you explain the use of the article ´A ´ with words like "UNIVERSITY"?
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teachergisele
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How do you explain the use of the article ´A ´ with words like "UNIVERSITY"?
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Hey people!
I have been having some trouble trying to explain how to use A or AN with their word exceptions. For example, A UNIVERSITY, AN HOUR, A EURTOPEAN.... I told them they have to focus on the sound not on the letter but it didn ´t work... then I tried to use Phonetics in my explanation but it got worse cause they are beginners and have no idea of what it is.
Does anyone have a clearer explanation to share with me?
Thank you very much in advance!
Hugs,
Gisele
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29 Feb 2012
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maryse peyé
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It is due to the double voyel sound [iu], the diphthong for UNIVERSITY and EUROPEAN. And the "h" is mute in HOUR whereas it is not in HORSE for example. HOUR and OUR have the same proununciation. Ask your students to pronounce loudly the good answer and the wrong one and ask them which one is easier to speak. The reason is, the most of the time for all the languages, a question of fluidity in the speech. Speaking is like running water and where there is an obstacle it it more difficult to keep the same rhythm and your run-up is broken. |
29 Feb 2012
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renko6
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Hi Gisele,
I have a very simple explanation for my student and it always work.
Here it is:
- a house, a hand BUT
an hour (because the h is silent, so hour is like our)
- an uncle, an umbrella BUT
a university (pronounced ´you-niversity ´),
a Europeann (pronounced ´you-ropean ´),
a uniform (pronounced ´you-niform ´) - (we write a before them because
they start like you - the second person, singular)
- an orange, an opera BUT
a one-pound stamp (pronounced ´wun.... ´)
Hope it will easier to understand for your students.
Have a nice day,
Renia 
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29 Feb 2012
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