One English teacher told me United States is modifying tradition so that's why it's a

because a tradition.

The other teacher told me it's a singular plural exception. United States is seen as singular.. Like these and the. A and an, but she was walking out the door and kind of blew me off.


btw.... this is the reason I hated grammar in school. Stuff that would sound right was wrong because of the environment I grew up in. I hated Grammar but LOVED Literature. My grades would go up and down depending upon the focus of that 9 weeks lessons.

(01-30-2014 03:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  One English teacher told me United States is modifying tradition so that's why it's a

because a tradition.

The other teacher told me it's a singular plural exception. United States is seen as singular.. Like these and the. A and an, but she was walking out the door and kind of blew me off.

Those answers don't make sense. I don't think they understood your question.

As for These United States and The United States, when I lived in GA someone told me that before the War of Northern Aggression, it was "These" United States, and after it became "The" United States.

So even that simple question is political and historical.

(01-30-2014 03:27 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 03:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  One English teacher told me United States is modifying tradition so that's why it's a

because a tradition.

The other teacher told me it's a singular plural exception. United States is seen as singular.. Like these and the. A and an, but she was walking out the door and kind of blew me off.

Those answers don't make sense. I don't think they understood your question.

As for These United States and The United States, when I lived in GA someone told me that before the War of Northern Aggression, it was "These" United States, and after it became "The" United States.

So even that simple question is political and historical.

I've heard that saying slightly different. Before the War Between the States people said The United State are....... and after it was The United States is.........

Take it for what it's worth.

(01-30-2014 03:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The other teacher told me it's a singular plural exception. United States is seen as singular.. Like these and the. A and an, but she was walking out the door and kind of blew me off.

The proper usage of "a" vs "an" has nothing to do with a word is singular or plural. I hope she's not an English teacher.

The exception has to do with the consonant pronunciation of the vowel "U" in United. In other words, when you pronounce "U" it sounds like a word that starts with the letter "Y", a consonant.

Our rules are no different on this subject than they are in British English.

Did a quick scan of this thread but didn't see anything about it; was this confirmed? Because it's not exactly an accredited source and the images are literally just printed out word documents that I could make in less than a minute.

(01-30-2014 03:37 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Our rules are no different on this subject than they are in British English.

Many British people would say “I need a H to complete this scrabble word”.
Which would be correct for those who pronounce the letter “H” as Haitch'
as opposed to us Americans that pronounce it ‘Aitch'

(01-30-2014 02:35 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 02:30 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 02:29 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 02:10 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 01:06 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  ....and you call yourself a teacher.

Yes I do and you are welcome.

If a noun begins with a consonant, you should always use "a." For instance, a cat jumped over a fence.
If a noun begins with a vowel, you should always use "an." For example, an eel always eats an ice cream cone.

Not when the vowel's pronunciation is that of a consonant.

Thank you grammar Nazi.

just making sure you're teaching our children correctly.

I'm a history teacher but thanks anyway.

(01-30-2014 03:35 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 03:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The other teacher told me it's a singular plural exception. United States is seen as singular.. Like these and the. A and an, but she was walking out the door and kind of blew me off.

The proper usage of "a" vs "an" has nothing to do with a word is singular or plural. I hope she's not an English teacher.

The exception has to do with the consonant pronunciation of the vowel "U" in United. In other words, when you pronounce "U" it sounds like a word that starts with the letter "Y", a consonant.

Can't "Y" also be a vowel?

Oh this is so cornfusing.

(01-30-2014 05:23 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 03:35 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 03:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The other teacher told me it's a singular plural exception. United States is seen as singular.. Like these and the. A and an, but she was walking out the door and kind of blew me off.

The proper usage of "a" vs "an" has nothing to do with a word is singular or plural. I hope she's not an English teacher.

The exception has to do with the consonant pronunciation of the vowel "U" in United. In other words, when you pronounce "U" it sounds like a word that starts with the letter "Y", a consonant.

Can't "Y" also be a vowel?

Oh this is so cornfusing.

I was taught, a, e, i, o, u , and SOMETIMES y. Now, I have no idea when that "SOMETIMES" actually is. lol

(01-31-2014 10:26 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 05:23 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 03:35 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 03:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The other teacher told me it's a singular plural exception. United States is seen as singular.. Like these and the. A and an, but she was walking out the door and kind of blew me off.

The proper usage of "a" vs "an" has nothing to do with a word is singular or plural. I hope she's not an English teacher.

The exception has to do with the consonant pronunciation of the vowel "U" in United. In other words, when you pronounce "U" it sounds like a word that starts with the letter "Y", a consonant.

Can't "Y" also be a vowel?

Oh this is so cornfusing.

I was taught, a, e, i, o, u , and SOMETIMES y. Now, I have no idea when that "SOMETIMES" actually is. lol

The sometimes is when there is no "real" vowel in the word like in the word "myth".

(01-31-2014 04:10 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(01-31-2014 10:26 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 05:23 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 03:35 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(01-30-2014 03:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The other teacher told me it's a singular plural exception. United States is seen as singular.. Like these and the. A and an, but she was walking out the door and kind of blew me off.

The proper usage of "a" vs "an" has nothing to do with a word is singular or plural. I hope she's not an English teacher.

The exception has to do with the consonant pronunciation of the vowel "U" in United. In other words, when you pronounce "U" it sounds like a word that starts with the letter "Y", a consonant.

Can't "Y" also be a vowel?

Oh this is so cornfusing.

I was taught, a, e, i, o, u , and SOMETIMES y. Now, I have no idea when that "SOMETIMES" actually is. lol

The sometimes is when there is no "real" vowel in the word like in the word "myth".

My day is complete.