When should I use A or An before words starting with a silent g?

Use Of The A And An Questions Medium



70 Short 80 Medium 46 Long Answer Questions Question Index

When should I use A or An before words starting with a silent g?

You should use "an" before words starting with a silent "g." The use of "an" is determined by the sound that follows the article, not the actual letter. Since the "g" is silent, the word following it would begin with a vowel sound. Therefore, "an" is used to maintain the smooth flow of speech. For example, you would say "an hour" because the "h" in "hour" is silent, and the word is pronounced with a vowel sound at the beginning.