The “h” in hour is NOT silent. It would be “a hero.”

I think that Americans use the definate article with places such as hospital because it is a distinct way to differenciate themselves from the British. Afterall, the American Revolution wasn’t fought because the colonists were so fond of the Crown.

I think this is also the reason that Americans do not use “o” in words such as color, favor, etc.

It is also interesting that Americans differenciate Herb, the name of a man, from that of a plant by pronouncing the H for the man’s name and not pronouncing the H for the plant (the plant woud be pronounced as “erb”).

For Americans, it is strange to hear phrases such as, “I went to hospital.” It really feels as though something is missing in the sentence. Likewise, I go to university sounds a bit strange too.

These types of differences is what makes languages and dialects so interesting though.

The use of the article “A”. This article is used especially when you are not specific as to “WHO or WHAT”, this can be shown in the examples hereinafter; “a man came looking for you”, “the man came looking for you”. In the first sentence, “a man” could be any and every man whose identity i do not know, whereas in the second sentence “the man” certainly refers to somebody you already know; perhaps, you are awre he will come to look for you. In summary, the use of this article is constant before consonants.

The use of the article “AN”. The use of this article can best be shown when distinguished from the article “A”. if “A” is used before consonants, “AN” is used before vowels. “Give me a pen”, “Give me an egg”. However, there is slight exception to this rule; THAT IS, ALL SILENT “Hs” IS PRECEEDED BY THE ARTICLE “AN” as in the example-; “an hour”, “an hero”, but not “an house”or “an hen”.

jblinkx