Why is 'an' used with 'three weeks'?

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It’s been an amazing three weeks.

I guess that 'an' is used with 'three weeks' because 'three weeks' is viewed as a period.

Am I correct?

Thanks.

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an is used because it preceeds the word amazing.

a is used if the next word doesn't begin with the letter a.

an is used if the next word begins with an a

for instance, you would say "it's been a terrible three weeks"

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"An" is used because the word that follows it begins with a vowel.

"It has been a great three weeks."

"It has been an amazing three weeks."

2 Replies

@chai2,

That's an unusual rule. Are you sure about it? Wink

1 Reply

@DrewDad,

oh yeah, DD right....it's a vowel, not just the vowel "a"

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@tanguatlay,

tanguatlay wrote:

It’s been an amazing three weeks.

I guess that 'an' is used with 'three weeks' because 'three weeks' is viewed as a period.

Am I correct?

Thanks.

Yes, you're correct.

0 Replies

@DrewDad,

Quote:

"An" is used because the word that follows it begins with a vowel sound.

1 Reply

@JTT,

You may be right. I'll let you know in an hour or so.

1 Reply

@DrewDad,

DrewDad wrote:

That's an unusual rule. Are you sure about it?

Not unusual. And, yes, I'm sure.

But the question wasn't about a or an. It was about using a singular word (an) with a plural (three weeks).

0 Replies

That is true you can use "an" before any word that starts with a vowel, if it doesn't then you use an "a". =)

1 Reply

@BarbieQPickle,

Roberta wrote: But the question wasn't about 'a' or 'an'. It was about using a singular word (an) with a plural (three weeks).
Yes, Roberta is correct. It is not about ‘an’ or ‘a’, but about singular word used with a plural.

Barbie wrote: That is true you can use "an" before any word that starts with a vowel. If it doesn't, then you use an "a".

I think JTT is correct: That is true you can use "an" before any word that starts with a vowel sound. If it doesn't then you use an "a".

Not just vowel but vowel sound. For example, it is a university, not an university.

1 Reply

@tanguatlay,

True, that makes sense!

0 Replies

@DrewDad,

DrewDad wrote:

You may be right. I'll let you know in an hour or so.

heh

1 Reply

@chai2,

DrewDad wrote:

You may be right. I'll let you know in an hour or so.

Hi DrewDad

Your one hour is more than up, and yet we have not heard from you.

What has happened? Confused

1 Reply

@tanguatlay,

tang

DD was playing a little joke.

He said "in an hour"

The word "hour" even though it starts with a consonant, it sounds like it starts with vowel.

So, the word "an" is used when it preceeds a word that Sounds like a vowel.

get it?

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I suppose this would not be a good time to point out the use of the word "an" to mean "if," huh?

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@tanguatlay,

tanguatlay wrote:

It’s been an amazing three weeks.

I guess that 'an' is used with 'three weeks' because 'three weeks' is viewed as a period.

Am I correct?

Thanks.

Yes, you would be correct.
The same would be true of an amazing three hours or an amazing three minutes.

2 Replies

@parados,

Thanks to all of you.

The reply from Setanta and Parados is the same. So I would conclude that is the answer to my query.

0 Replies

@parados,

parados wrote:

tanguatlay wrote:

It’s been an amazing three weeks.

I guess that 'an' is used with 'three weeks' because 'three weeks' is viewed as a period.

Am I correct?

Thanks.

Yes, you would be correct.
The same would be true of an amazing three hours or an amazing three minutes.

I don't get that.

It wouldn't be "an" terrible three hours or "an terrible three minutes.

Why would it be "an" because you're speaking of a period?

----

Set, I'm sure you're correct, I can't think of an example of using "an" for "if"
Give us one please.

2 Replies

@chai2,

chai2 wrote:

Set, I'm sure you're correct, I can't think of an example of using "an" for "if"
Give us one please.

I've seen it, but I don't think it's a common modern usage.

An ye wish to learn more, I commend thee to a place height "Google".

2 Replies

Why is 'an' used with 'three weeks'?

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