At Parker, our purpose is simple.
We want to make the world a better place
by working more efficiently,
by using more sustainable practices,
by developing better technologies,
we keep moving forward.
With each new idea, innovation, and partnership,
we're one step closer to fulfilling our purpose every single day.
To find out more, visit parker.com slash purpose.
Parker, engineering your success.
Hey, A to Z English Podcast listeners, it's Jack here.
And we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat.
Our WeChat ID is A to Z English Podcast.
That is A to Z English Podcast.
One word, all lowercase.
And if you join the group, you'll be able to talk with me,
you'll be able to talk with social.
And we can answer your questions,
we can read your comments on the podcast.
So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our WeChat group.
Our WeChat ID is A to Z English Podcast.
Thanks. See you on the app.
Welcome to the A to Z English Podcast.
My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host, Social.
And today we are in the grammar zone.
And we're going to talk about A and On.
And social, what is the difference between those two articles?
Why do we, why do we separate those and have two different words for them?
Because they have to agree with the next word.
So if the next word starts with the vowel,
then it has to be A and.
So for example, un-elifant, un-a.
Un-higloo.
On apple.
Yeah.
Yeah, an apple.
And if it's A, it's because the next, the following thing that you're referring to,
now that you're referring to, I guess usually,
starts with a consonant and not a vowel.
So it'd be like a pie, a cake, a car,
and etc., etc.
Just anything that starts with a consonant and then on.
Yeah, a podcast.
And A and is for anything that starts with a vowel.
I think it's because it does make it sound smoother.
Like think about saying A elephant or A elephant instead of un-elifant.
It just avoids your vowel noises all mushing together.
Right. It's very awkward in English to have two vowel sounds together.
We can't do that, right?
They need to be interrupted by a consonant sound.
Like a-a-a-egg is two vowel sounds together, right?
So yeah, we can't-
it's just a- it's a phonetic rule in English that you just-
it's much easier if you break it up with a- with a consonant.
So we say un-un-egg, un-apple, any glue like that.
A male friend.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, I think that's pretty much it.
It just keep in mind if it's going to start with a consonant,
make sure that you are using A and then if it's going to start with a vowel,
the next following we're just going to start with the vowel,
make sure that you're doing A and un.
And yeah, that's-
What about-
What about an hour?
And that's an H.
So we should say-
Yeah, that's true.
Yeah, but you don't.
You say un-hour.
There are some exceptions to this rule,
and I think it comes down to if that consonant is silent.
In our H is silent.
So you're still making two vowel sounds.
So you would do un-an-hour instead of pay hour.
What about first?
Yeah.
But see, it's not-
It's not-
At Parker, our purpose is simple.
We want to make the world a better place
by working more efficiently,
by using more sustainable practices,
by developing better technologies,
we keep moving forward.
With each new idea, innovation, and partnership,
we're one step closer to fulfilling our purpose every single day.
To find out more, visit parker.com-slash-purpose.
Parker, engineering your success.
First, yeah, we say-
Yeah.
I don't know why he's like that, Jake.
What are-
Dachon.
Haha.
My name's Jack, by the way.
No, no, no, you're-
You're-
You're exactly right.
It-
It doesn't-
The rule is not-
It's not a spelling rule.
It's a-
It's a-
It's a-
It's a phonetic rule.
It's a sound rule.
So, if it sounds like a vowel, we use un.
And so, our is a silent H.
So we say un-our.
But horse, we actually pronounce the H sound.
So we say a horse.
So-
So it's-
It doesn't come down to spelling.
A lot-
A lot of teachers teach it as a spelling rule.
In-
In school.
In grammar school.
In school.
But it's not.
In-
This is where a very strange-
Uh, word that-
A very strange example emerges here with historic.
I hear it all the time on the news.
N-
Historic event.
And-
There's no reason to say N-
Historic.
If you're saying-
If you're pronouncing the H,
It'll be a historic-
Not N-
Historic.
Have you heard that before?
I-
I have heard that mistake-
A historic-
But yeah, it is a historic event.
But Jack, I'm confused because when you do-
Uh-
Oh yeah, that's true.
A horse-
A historic event.
Yeah.
And-
When you say un-
Horse because it's-
Again, you're pronouncing the H.
Yeah, when people say un-
Historic,
They-
They-
They think they're being super smart.
But they're actually-
Being too clever-
That they're actually wrong.
They're overthinking.
Yes, exactly.
It's kind of a-
It's a weird like academia thing.
I've heard it so many times.
And it used to drive my-
Um-
My-
My teacher in my university crazy.
When-
When she would hear that.
Uh-
And so I kind of learned for my teacher.
It was like, oh no.
You got to follow the rules, right?
All historic.
But if you say historic-
And you don't say the H,
You could say an historic event.
But historic is not really a word we use, right?
We say historic with an H.
So-
A historic event.
Weird stuff.
Crazy.
Yeah.
Alright, good sinners.
If you have any more questions for us or any more grammar issues
That you'd like us to resolve here on the podcast,
Make sure to leave us a comment down below at a-d-z English podcast.com.
And also make sure you join the WeChat or WhatsApp groups to make sure that you can talk to Jack and I directly and join the conversation there.
Remember that Jack and I are now doing a-
English corner.
Yeah, English corner.
So that's a lot of fun.
It's only 80 RMB or 10 USD dollars per month.
So for 20 classes, you're basically paying 50 cents a class.
And it's really great.
It's a community where a lot of people are excellent English speakers.
And we've really enjoyed putting it together.
It's one hour a day from Monday to Friday.
And if you want more information, make sure to message I or Jack directly on the WeChat or WhatsApp groups.
And we'll see you guys next time.
Bye-bye.
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