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When do we use 'a' and 'an'?



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Far Up: How far up do you want to take your standard? | Meaning of appoint
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When do we use 'a' and 'an'? Fri Jun 09, 2006 14:17 pm  When do we use 'a' and 'an'?
 

Dear all, I have a question, is it:
a mRNA

or an mRNA ?

I cannot find the rule anywhere and also my english speaking collegues cannot help!

thanks a lot!
Stephanie
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A or an Fri Jun 09, 2006 14:23 pm  A or an
 

I don't know what mRNA is - acronym or anything else but you must use an article "a"("a"is used before consonant sounds and "an" before vowel sounds)
Ex.An apple, a peach
Hope,it's clear Very Happy
Pamela
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A or an Fri Jun 09, 2006 14:29 pm  A or an
 

thank you very much. what you wrote is clear to me. however, if you pronouce m it starts with a vowl....thats why i asked...for peach it is clear...
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A or an Fri Jun 09, 2006 14:38 pm  A or an
 

"m" is not a vowel Very Happy but can you explain what mRNA is.
Pamela
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A or an Fri Jun 09, 2006 14:45 pm  A or an
 

ok, i found the anwer myself...just replying to you to let you also know....

"an is used before words starting with a vowel sound, regardless of whether the word begins with a vowel letter"
so an mRNA is correct (mRNA stands for messanger RNA wich is a product of the DNA of each of a bodies cell)

greetings,

stephi
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A or an Fri Jun 09, 2006 14:48 pm  A or an
 

Hi Stephanie

Yes, that's right! With an abbreviation that has a vowel sound at the beginning (even though what you write is a consonant), you need to use "an".

- an mRNA
- an MBA
- an RSVP

Amy
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A or an Fri Jun 09, 2006 15:23 pm  A or an
 

.I found what I was looking for"The "life cycle" of an mRNA in a eukaryotic cell. The abbreviation itself confused me Laughing
Hi Stephanie and Amy!By the "vowel sound or consonant sound" I meant not a letter Laughing
Pamela
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A or an Fri Jun 09, 2006 15:42 pm  A or an
 

Hi Pamela

Yes, I noiticed that you wrote vowel sound in your first post, but since Stephanie still seemed confused and then mentioned that she had 'found the answer herself', I just wanted to confirm the answer. Wink

Amy
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A or an Fri Jun 09, 2006 16:03 pm  A or an
 

While I was writing to her you've already passed ahead of me Very Happy
Pamela
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Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1232
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