Use Of The A And An Questions Medium
Yes, you can use "a" or "an" before words starting with a silent "s." The choice between "a" and "an" depends on the sound that follows the article, not the silent letter at the beginning of the word.
If the word following "a" or "an" starts with a vowel sound, you would use "an." For example, you would say "an hour" because the "h" in "hour" is silent, and the word starts with a vowel sound.
On the other hand, if the word following "a" or "an" starts with a consonant sound, you would use "a." For example, you would say "a silent night" because the word "silent" starts with a consonant sound, even though the "s" is silent.
In summary, the use of "a" or "an" is determined by the sound that follows the article, not the presence of a silent letter at the beginning of the word.