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by logitech » Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:14 pm
If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article:

* a broken egg
* an unusual problem
* a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)
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Source: — Sentence Correction |

by awesomeusername » Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:57 pm
This is why English is one of the hardest languages to learn!

Don't forget, you can use "AN historic event"
But "A historic event" seems to be correct too.

Here's some interesting info:

You should use “an” before a word beginning with an “H” only if the “H” is not pronounced: “an honest effort”; it’s properly “a historic event” though many sophisticated speakers somehow prefer the sound of “an historic,” so that version is not likely to get you into any real trouble.

https://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/anhistoric.html
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by logitech » Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:29 pm
Same story with European. But I am not quite sure whether GMAT tests this concept but it does not hurt to know!
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"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
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by raunekk » Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:25 am
i have neva seen in my prep "vowels and article" being tested...
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