an
part of speech
article (an — the form of «a» before a vowel sound)
meaning for a pupil
1) 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 →
2) In rates «an» means each or per: «60 km an hour», «5 dollars an hour». tree →
3) (casual) In quick talk «an» is often swallowed or turned into «a»: «a apple» is heard but wrong in writing. tree →
4) (casual) «'n'» or «an'» is a clipped «and»: «fish 'n' chips», «me an' him»; this is a different word. tree →
5) (formal, old) Some formal writers still use «an» before a sounded h: «an historic day», «an hotel». tree →
sense 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
- 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 →
- 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 the corpora
- And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
- Now Sarai Abram's wife bore him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
- And God was with the lad, and he grew; and he dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
- And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.
- And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «an» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.