an

article (an — the form of «a» before a vowel sound)

«an» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

An is a small word used before a word that starts with a vowel sound, like an apple, an egg or an hour. It means one. tree →
In rates «an» means each or per: «60 km an hour», «5 dollars an hour». tree →
(casual) In quick talk «an» is often swallowed or turned into «a»: «a apple» is heard but wrong in writing. tree →
(casual) «'n'» or «an'» is a clipped «and»: «fish 'n' chips», «me an' him»; this is a different word. tree →
(formal, old) Some formal writers still use «an» before a sounded h: «an historic day», «an hotel». tree →

In the lessons

In school maths: means one of something before a vowel sound; in rates it means «each» or «per», as in «an hour», so the total is rate × time. In everyday reading: «an» shows a new thing in a story, «the» shows one we already know («an owl... the owl»). In casual talk: «an hour» is often «an hr» in texts. In the exam voice: «per hour», «at a rate of 5 dollars per hour». Phrases: «an hour», «an apple a day», «once an hour», «an hour and a half».

Examples

Sam has an apple and 3 pears. tree →
A car goes 60 kilometres an hour. tree →
She earns 5 dollars an hour. tree →
An egg costs 20 cents. tree →
An elephant is the biggest land animal. tree →
We waited for an hour and a half. tree →
An owl lived in the tree; the owl hooted all night. tree →
It is an honour to meet you. tree →
been waiting like an hr, where r u (casual) tree →
5 bucks an hour?? that's a rip-off (casual) tree →
An 8 and an 18 are both even. tree →
Remuneration is at a rate of 5 dollars per hour; compute the earnings for a period of 6 hours. (formal exam) tree →
Then an idea came to him. tree →

Note

Use «an» before a vowel sound, not just a vowel letter: «an hour», «an honest boy» (silent h), but «a uniform», «a one-way street» (they start with a «y» or «w» sound). Numbers follow the sound: «an 8», «an 11», «an 18», but «a 1» and «a 7». Maths: «an» can stand for the number one. In «miles an hour» or «dollars an hour» it marks a rate, so the total is rate × time. Trap: forgetting that «an orange» counts as 1. Formal «per» = an in rates. Casual «'n'» means and, not an.

In Jewish tradition

Examples

And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. (Torah GEN.33.20, JPS 1917) tree →
Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah. (Torah EXO.16.36, JPS 1917) tree →
and the second row a carbuncle, a sapphire, and an emerald; (Torah EXO.28.18, JPS 1917) tree →
Shall windy words have an end? (Writings JOB.16.3, JPS 1917) tree →
Or hast thou an arm like God? (Writings JOB.40.9, JPS 1917) tree →
Why are the nations in an uproar? (Writings PSA.2.1, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Early Modern English

Meaning

Used before a word that starts with a vowel sound, to mean one. tree →

Then and now

The old sense "if" does not appear in these sentences; they use "an" just as we do today.

Examples

And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. (Torah GEN.33.20, JPS 1917) tree →
He would think me an adventurer." (The Arabian Nights Entertainments) tree →
Misery, or an evil end, or simply evil, ROH. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →

Note

Today: a (before a vowel sound).

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «an» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«an» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «an» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«an» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «an» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«an» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.

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