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(ordered by seriousness) vocabulary for learners tests and games awkward plurals sayings and proverbs tattoo fails our Twitter page our YouTube channel
Consonants
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What Are Consonants? (with Examples)
A consonant is a letter of the alphabet that represents a basic speech sound produced by obstructing the breath in the vocal tract. All the letters in the alphabet apart from A, E, I, O, and U (called vowels) are known as consonants.For example:
- T is pronounced using the tongue (front part)
- K is pronounced using the tongue (back part)
- B is pronounced with the lips
- H is pronounced in the throat
- F is pronounced by forcing air through a narrow gap
- M is pronounced using the nasal passage
Got it? Take a quick test.More about Consonants
With seven consonants, "rhythms" is the longest word without any vowels. There are three words with six consonants and no vowels:- He moved very spryly. ("Spryly" means in a nimble or agile manner.)
- She is sylphy. ("Sylphy" means like a "sylph" (a slender graceful girl).)
- Eclipses occur at times of syzygy. ("Syzygy" is the straight-line configuration of three or more celestial bodies.)
With no "vowels," we have crwth (a stringed instrument) and cwtch (a shed, cuddle, or hiding place). But, both of these words derive from Welsh, which typically treats W like the U in "cut."
Why Should I Care about Consonants?
There are two good reasons to care about consonants.(Reason 1) Use "a" and "an" correctly.
Use "a" (not "an") before a consonant sound. Note the word sound. (The ruling is not use "a" before a consonant.)- It was a unique experience to receive an unequivocal answer.
(Even though "unique" and "unequivocal" start with the same letter (the same two letters in fact), "unique" starts with a consonant sound (Y) while "unequivocal" starts with a vowel sound. Remember that you must use "a" (not "an") before a consonant sound.)
- Becoming a eunuch wasn't a one-off deal – it was a two-off deal.
("Eunuch" and "one-off" both start with vowels but with consonant sounds.)
Be particularly careful with abbreviations.
- She was injured in a RTA.
- She was injured in an RTA.
(The letter "R" is a consonant, but the initialism RTA is pronounced "ar-tee-ay," i.e., it starts with a vowel sound. Therefore, "an" is correct.)
- A MAFF official came to stuff an MRSA outbreak.
(The acronym MAFF attracts "a" because it is pronounced "maf," i.e., it starts with a consonant sound. However, the initialism MRSA attracts "an" because it is pronounced "em-ar-ess-ay," i.e., it starts with a vowel sound.)
(Reason 2) Use consonance to add rhythm and musicality to your writing.
Consonance is a literary technique created by repeating the same consonant sound in neighboring words. It is used by poets and lyricists to compel their audiences to consider the near rhyme created by consonance. Consonance is not the same as alliteration, which sees neighboring words all starting with the same letter or sound.- I earn my keep by cracking locks or picking a pockets.
- She swung her fist in angst against the beast.
- The new logo says boorish and English but also stylish.
Key Points
- Use "a" (not "an") if the next word starts with a consonant sound.
- Use consonance to compel your readers to think more deeply about your word choice.
Ready for the Test?
Here is a confirmatory test for this lesson.This test can also be:
- Edited (i.e., you can delete questions and play with the order of the questions).
- Printed to create a handout.
- Sent electronically to friends or students.
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?