I was writing something the other day, and it struck me that the word “european” doesn’t apply the “an” rule.
e.g.
“I bought an American car”
“I bought a European car”
Both words commence with vowels. Why don’t we say “an European…”?
P.S. I am not sure of the correct liguistics terminology, so perhaps it has been discussed before.
American starts with a “a” sound, a vowel sound
European starts with a “y” sound, a consonant sound
Same reason we don’t say “an University degree”…
[quote=“Big Fluffy Matthew”]American starts with a “a” sound, a vowel sound
European starts with a “y” sound, a consonant sound[/quote]Strike one!
Next batter up!
(Hell, he could be right. I always wondered about this myself)
[quote=“TainanCowboy”][quote=“Big Fluffy Matthew”]American starts with a “a” sound, a vowel sound
European starts with a “y” sound, a consonant sound[/quote]Strike one!
Next batter up!
(Hell, he could be right. I always wondered about this myself)
[/quote]
He is right, although I wouldn’t necessarily characterise it as a “y” sound, since, phonetically, “y” at the beginning of a word is really a long “e” (ee) sound.
But still, you don’t say “an yellow Volkswagen”, do you?
The rule is based on pronunciation, not spelling. You must use
Yes, those are the rules and that’s why when talking about a plant that is used medicinally or as a spice you should say:
an herb; not a herb. 
Damn, you guys are good!!
[quote=“Erhu”]Yes, those are the rules and that’s why when talking about a plant that is used medicinally or as a spice you should say:
an herb; not a herb. [/quote]
Not quite. Again, pronounciation. It’s “an 'erb” or “a herb.” Like “an 'otel” and “a hotel.”
[quote=“Erhu”]Yes, those are the rules and that’s why when talking about a plant that is used medicinally or as a spice you should say:
an herb; not a herb. [/quote]
What about the slightly overindulgent but generally wise and caring pater familias of a transplanted passel of Idaho squareheads?
A or An?
Yellow is an adjective anyways, which doesn’t need an article.
jdsuperior
an holy shit. 2 pages in minutes…
What are you guys…engrish teachers and literature people or sumn?
I was a very crap English teacher. A Taiwanese couple paid extravagant amounts to get me to go to their place 9am on a Saturday morning. Strangely my brief was to teach them English by speaking Chinese. Hubby asked; “why is it sometimes ‘an’ and sometimes ‘a’?”
My answer, the very first that came into my barely functioning brain, and while staring right at his wife: “Ah yes, that has to do with adjectives, for example ‘an’ ugly wife” . . . 
HG
[quote=“Huang Guang Chen”]I was a very crap English teacher. A Taiwanese couple paid extravagant amounts to get me to go to their place 9am on a Saturday morning. Strangely my brief was to teach them English by speaking Chinese. Hubby asked; “why is it sometimes ‘an’ and sometimes ‘a’?”
My answer, the very first that came into my barely functioning brain, and while staring right at his wife: “Ah yes, that has to do with adjectives, for example ‘an’ ugly wife” . . .
HG[/quote]
Brilliant :bravo:
Yellow is an adjective anyways, which doesn’t need an article.
jdsuperior[/quote]
WTF?
What is that, Caveman Speak?
“I saw yellow car outside.”
So “European” isn’t an adjective?
In Soviet Russia, yellow car drive YOU!
Yellow is an adjective anyways, which doesn’t need an article.
jdsuperior[/quote]
WTF?
What is that, Caveman Speak?
“I saw yellow car outside.”
So “European” isn’t an adjective?[/quote]
Psst: the article goes with the NOUN bub, not the adjective.
a banana(good)
a yellow(bad, a yellow what?")
a yellow banana(good)
What color is a banana?
It is yellow. (Not “It is a yellow.”)
European can be a noun and an adj. 
Yellow is an adjective anyways, which doesn’t need an article.
jdsuperior[/quote]
WTF?
What is that, Caveman Speak?
“I saw yellow car outside.”
So “European” isn’t an adjective?[/quote]
Psst: the article goes with the NOUN bub, not the adjective.
a banana(good)
a yellow(bad, a yellow what?")
a yellow banana(good)
What color is a banana?
It is yellow. (Not “It is a yellow.”)
European can be a noun and an adj. [/quote]
Psst yourself, bub, so you’re telling me you’d say “I got An red envelope”, or “She drives A orange Honda”?!?!?!?!
Remind me to think twice before referring your school.
deleted because I’m not doing angry today. 
I’m not feeling the love.