an exciting news -- is it correct?
By RUBESH
@Manasha (2727)
Pondicherry, India
September 20, 2012 9:46pm CST
Usually,we use an before vowels. But I am confused with the use of the word use in the above sentence. Shall I be able to use the article an before the words exciting news?
an exciting event
an exciting news?
5 responses
@dreamy1 (3811)
• United States
21 Sep 12
You would just say exciting news. For example I have exciting news, or there is exciting news. Exciting is an adjective it describes. In this example it's describing the kind of news. It has nothing to do with the fact that it starts with a vowel.
1 person likes this
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
11 Oct 12
News means new or fresh information. For example: What's the latest news? a news item/report/bulletin I am quoting the above examples from page no 781 of 'Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English, Fifth Edition,with a special supplement of Indian English. This shows that though the word seems to pleural, but it is used as singular. I think you would check it yourself. It would be better for you.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
30 Sep 12
No. The word "news" is plural. You cannot refer to "a news" - it has to be "some news".
You can say "An exciting event" but you must say "Some exciting news".
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
30 Sep 12
I forgot to mention here that it is a collective noun and is used with a plural article but a singular verb. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to all collective nouns, only to words which are singular in intent but plural in form or to abstract things like 'excellence' or 'intelligence' (in certain cases).
@arcideaco (1257)
• Singapore
22 Sep 12
Yes it's dependable on how the word sounds. You can refer to the dictionary. There is a certain indication whether an or a can be used. Usually we just follow the a, e, i, o and u thing for using of "an".
Cheers
