Arizona State Board Nail Technology Practice Exam

When transitioning from a stem in a sentence, what must the last word be if it starts with "an"?

1. Consonant

2. Vowel

3. Adjective

4. Noun

The correct answer is: Vowel

When a sentence begins with "an," the last word following it must start with a vowel sound. This is because "an" is the indefinite article used before words that begin with a vowel sound to ensure smooth pronunciation. For example, you would say "an apple" or "an hour," where "apple" and "hour" begin with vowel sounds, making "an" the appropriate choice. On the other hand, using "an" before a word that starts with a consonant sound would sound incorrect, such as saying "an car" instead of "a car." Understanding this concept is important for grammatical correctness and clarity in communication. The other options, such as consonant, adjective, and noun, do not pertain directly to the requirement following "an," as they do not account for the phonetic element of vowel sounds that is critical in this context.