Why 'An'?

[Макс77]

'If you do not have an SAP session running...'
Почему-то я всегда считал, что 'an' употребляется, если существительное начинается с гласной. А тут ведь слово 'session' начинается с согласной. Или есть еще какие-то правила, когда употребляется an?

P.S. Учитывается гласная/согласная именно существительного или же, если таковое имеется, его прилагательного? E.g.:
an orange ball
or
an orange apple

[Макс77]

P.S.S.
лучше так

an orange ball
or
an red apple

[yelena.t]

Опечатка: либо a, либо any (скорее всего) имелось ввиду

[foxtrot]

первый звук i: [i:es pi:]

[Stasia]

"An" употребляется в случае если с гласной начинается следующее по порядку слово (будь то существительное или прилагательное).

SAP произносится как [es ei pi:], следовательно, начинается с гласной.

[Nina79]

AN is not only if you have a vowel. It is also used for words which have "vowel sounds" at the beginning.

an historian is the oddest exception to the rules of usage

other an's:
an hour

[foxtrot]

перепутал с ESP, сорри.

[yelena.t]

Да, согласна со Stasia
Нейтивы редко объединяют аббревиатуру в одно слово (мы говорим САП, а они чаще произносят побуквенно), поэтому an-артикль здесь, видимо, к месту

[Stasia]

Сорри: с гласнОГО, конечно (в смысле, звука).

[october]

Stasia +1

[Макс77]

Всем спасибо :)

[Slava]

Если Вы, например, захотите сказать по-английски "это слово начинается с (буквы) S", Вы тоже употребите неопределенный артикль: "this word starts with an S".

[Slava]

Точнее, не просто неопределенный, а именно "an", хотя "S" и согласная буква.

[Nina79]

Slava

+ 1
but we usually say, "this word begins with the letter "s".
Though "this word starts with an "s"" is also correct.

[Slava]

Susan,

You know better. but "begin" is more formal, in my opinion
(maybe this was your point).
It's like "deceive" and "cheat" or "persuade" and "convince" - the first one in each pair is more formal.
OK, I admit, I used to hang out with english-speaking students more often that with teachers of English and it had its effect on me
(which is not necessarily a good thing). :-))

[Nina79]

Slava
It was just an FYI about what is used by "formal" people I guess :) It was not me trying to put you down. "starts with" is of course used by less formal people, in conversational english and by the young generation.

And hanging out with students of English has its advantages too. Trust me.

[Slava]

Susan,

thanks. :-)
I probably put it wrong. when I said "english-speaking students" I meant American students who went to the university with me.
(I didn't provide enough context, I know, which is inexcusable in this forum! :-)))

Going back to the formal/informal usage, I consider being able to speak good informal English an achievement of sorts. :-) This is what they never teach at schools teach us at school and it's not all that difficult to learn. :-)

[Slava]

"of sorts" should read "sort of" (I mean it in a positive sense).
Sorry :-)

[Nina79]

Slava,
Stop apologising. I might begin to think you have some sort of inferiroity complex otherwise :)

about it beign an achievement - i agree, which is why i usually tell people i know both Russian languages (formal Russian and every-day doofus Russian) and sometimes say that I know 2 and a half Russian languages if you count my all-too-good understanding of the "Russian street" (i know far too much mat, it's shameful but i like to know everything, so i ended up knowing that too)

American students, eh? Yeah, they can ruin a gentleman's English in less than 30 seconds. :)

[Slava]

Susan,

"American students, eh? Yeah, they can ruin a gentleman's English in less than 30 seconds. :)"

hey, you used to be an American student, didn't you? :-)

[Nina79]

Yes, yes I did. And I am still an American (by birth), and in some ways still a student (what with the Eesti lessons), but I would no longer classify myself as an American Student (thank me lucky charms!).