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Parts of speech: Difference between revisions
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** or before "o" when the "o" makes a "w" sound | ** or before "o" when the "o" makes a "w" sound | ||
*** "a one-time" or "a | *** "a one-time" or "a | ||
* an = for use before words that begin with a vowel or a soft "h" | * an = for use before words that begin with a vowel or a soft "h": | ||
** "an owl" | ** "an owl", "an hour" | ||
** hard "h" sounds use "a": | |||
** hard "h" sounds use "a" | *** "a horse", "a historical" | ||
*** "a horse" | === indefinite articles & count, noncount & generic nouns=== | ||
* if the noun cannot be counted, then it does not take an indefinite article | |||
* | ** ex. | ||
*** "rain" cannot be counted, so "a rain" is incorrect | |||
*** | **** as opposed to "a rainfall" which can be counted | ||
*** | *** "water" cannot be counted, so "a water" is incorrect | ||
* | *** however, if referring to "a water" as in "a glass" or "a bottle" of water, which CAN be counted | ||
**** therefore the indefinite article "a" works, as in "may I have a water?" | |||
* generic categories do not take the indefinite article: | |||
** when the noun represents a generic or general idea or category, the article is omitted | |||
** ex. "They went on vacation" as opposed to "they went on a vacation" | |||
** "The mentor gave him good advice" as opposed to "gave him a good advice" | |||
* see | * see | ||
** [https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/using_articles.html Purdue OWL on using articles} | ** [https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/using_articles.html Purdue OWL on using articles} | ||