Article 冠詞

steelheart

(1) The words "a", "an", "the" are called "articles". We use the articles "a" and "an" before a noun to show that the quantity of the noun is one.
" c8 u& k' I# @% n「冠詞」是指 "a", "an", "the" 這三個字。如果一個名詞的數量只有一個，我們可以用 "a" 或 "an" 這兩個「冠詞」放在名詞前面。

% @3 B+ i5 W% w& Y- {4 _3 F(2) We use the article "the" to refer to the noun specifically.
  T' e# _3 {& e& C: K7 H1 T+ ]我們會使用 "the" 這個冠詞來表示某個特定的名詞。

For example 例如:
I want to buy a new pen.
(我想買一支新的原子筆。任何一支新的原子筆都可以，沒有特定的。)
) ?, Q: Z8 h9 d0 S% v* O, QI want to buy the new blue pen.
(我想買那支新的藍原子筆。說話者指向某支特定的藍原子筆，有特定的意思。)

1 l0 Q/ K+ M% D0 w6 A! n. \I have eaten an egg.
/ {; k, O1 |& {: ^9 a& s(我吃了一隻蛋。沒有特定指是哪隻蛋，只是提出所吃的是一隻蛋。)
I have eaten the two eggs in my bowl.
(我吃了我碗裡的那兩隻蛋。說話者指向碗裡的那兩隻特定的蛋，有特定的意思。)

(3) If the word after the article begins with a vowel (i.e. the sounds "a", "e", "i", "o", "u"), we use the article "an". Otherwise, we use the article "a".
. O/ ?. Y+ X; H9 t; L如果在冠詞後的那個英文字是以響音開首的 (即 a, e, i, o, u 這些音)，我們便用 "an"，否則，我們會用 "a"。
" m5 A$ K% c: o/ |8 T- T0 t
7 C0 b* ?& u/ F4 CExamples 例子:
# v$ }3 q8 O/ S: eThere is an elephant in the zoo.
# h  _8 H! ?, \! n1 X& S* u3 eThere is a big elephant in the zoo.
' l: q0 W* B5 u3 b& M
/ A, v& `- x; L(4) We can use the article "the" for persons, places or things which are unique.
6 q+ b# ?! ?6 }% g/ x如果所指的人物、地方或東西是獨特的，我們會用 "the" 這冠詞。

, u. @( ^; w! MFor examples 例如:
/ O7 C( M; h' N6 \! c* ?* rthe Earth　地球
5 l* L/ g7 Q. \4 ]8 j/ {the Moon　月亮
the east　東面
the west　西面
the Principal　校長
2 E4 k! f  z. J2 `6 mthe President　會長或總統
the world　世界
the Queen　皇后

0 l, C6 Y. S3 s$ q/ W" D(5) Remember we also use the article "the" when using "superlative adjectives".
: W0 V" K5 S6 `6 s# i記著我們在最高級形容詞前面也需要加上 "the" 這字的。
( g1 _% |& c4 e) w% p7 rFor example 例如:
- W# R; Z8 J0 Q( EMy brother is the tallest one in my family.

(6) We also use the article "the" to show priorities:
我們也會用 "the" 來表示先後次序 :
For example 例如:
# a& H/ _* I2 f  n* zthe first lesson　第一堂
5 J" U9 L& _% d) E0 i9 Bthe third page　第三頁
the sixth prize　第六名

7 S4 g" l: S/ A8 O, ^(7) We use "a" or "an" for the person or thing you mention the first time, then we use "the" when you mention that person or thing again.
當我們第一次提及某人或物時，我們會用 "a" 或 "an" 放在那名詞前。然後，當我們再次提起該人或物時，我們便要用 "the"。
1 T1 d* H: B( ~2 k+ F- w0 s3 h
2 X) `3 y; v6 z, D( b# IFor example 例如：
I see a cat on the street. The cat is black but it has a white tail. The tail is very long.