Trying to understand

Question

So basically you use "e" in front of any word that begins with an "I" but other than that"y" is used most of the time? and I still do not understand "u" and "o"

There are good examples given in the answer. In English we do this "sound shift" with the indefinite article: a boy, an aviator because saying "a" or "uh" bfore a vowel doesn't sound good to the English ear. - Jubilado, Oct 5, 2014

Answer 1

"And" is y and e.

The e replaces y only when the following word starts with a pronunciation of y, ie: españoles e indios, mecánica e hidráulica.

"Or" is o and u.

The u replaces the o only when the following word starts with a o pronunciation, ie: este u otro, mexicano u holandés.

In both cases when an article preceeds the following word, we do not use the substitution, ie: los españoles y los indios, este o el otro.

Answer 2

It has to do with avoiding repetition of sound so that the word can be distinguished.

http://spanish.about.com/cs/grammar/qt/y_o.htm

Two of the most common conjunctions in Spanish — y (meaning "and") and o (meaning "or") — can change spelling and pronunciation based on the word that follows.

Both changes help keep the conjunction from blending into the following word. Ybecomes e when it precedes a word that begins with the i sound, while o becomes uwhen it precedes a word that begins with the o sound. Typically, then, the y becomese when it precedes most words that begin with i- or hi-, and o becomes u preceding words starting with o- or ho-. Y does not change before words, such as hierba, that begin with the ia, ie, io or iu sound, regardless of spelling.

Following are examples of correct usage:

• Reciben tratamiento cruel e inhumano. (They are receiving cruel and inhumane treatment.) • • Vendemos productos de limpieza e higiene. (We sell cleaning and hygiene products.) • • Está enteramente construido de nieve y hielo. (It is built completely of snow and ice.) • • Usamos punto y coma para separar las frases u oraciones que constituyen una enumeración. (We use a semicolon to separate phrases or sentences that make up a list.) • • No recuerdo si fue ayer u hoy. (I don't remember if it was yesterday or today.)

Very good examples! - Jubilado, Oct 5, 2014

Answer 3

Any word that begins with L but you want to put an E in front of the L?

Wouldn't that make it an E starting word?

I got it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same thing with an and a when the following word starts with a vowel.

Answer 4

What about H words such as Hablar

Same thing because the H is silent/mute - chileno, Oct 9, 2014