use of a, an, the

[murthspd]

We use "an" with words starting with vowel sounds. We say "an ear" but "a year", even though both start with same vowel sound. Why ?

[Maeve]

We use "an" with words starting with vowel sounds. We say "an ear" but "a year", even though both start with same vowel sound. Why ?

ear year both start with same vowel sound? May I ask what variety of English you speak? In my spoken variety ear begins with a vowel sound and year begins with a consonant sound. :)