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Why "a pray" is incorrect—understanding proper usage

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 03/01/2025, 00:43
English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

A pray or a prayer. What's correct?

Grammatical error due to misuse of a verb as a noun

Why do people make this mistake?

People may mistakenly use "a pray" due to confusion between the verb "pray" and the related noun "prayer".

What is correct?

The correct usage depends on the intended meaning. If referring to the act of praying, the correct form is "a prayer". If describing the action, "pray" remains a verb without an article.

Examples of correct usage

  • She said a prayer for her family's safety.
  • They offered a prayer at the ceremony.
  • He wrote a heartfelt prayer.

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