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.
; T) \/ w8 p5 o: E「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。

(2) We use the article "the" to refer to the noun specifically.
我們會使用 "the" 這個冠詞來表示某個特定的名詞。
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0 T/ M' H6 j" D% S8 h, [$ e5 lFor 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。)
1 h8 r$ ~, G4 ]9 O- RI want to buy the new blue pen.
4 y% k. K9 w# [(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。)
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* j+ H# a/ Q* I% e- R: EI have eaten an egg.
(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。)
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(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".
& m+ \, U8 X8 S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"。
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Examples 例子:
There is an elephant in the zoo.
There is a big elephant in the zoo.

(4) We can use the article "the" for persons, places or things which are unique.
) r3 T: I! N1 Z, k% M如果所指的人物、地方或東西是獨特的，我們會用 "the" 這冠詞。
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: h/ I% N8 A6 p( s! S, ^3 uFor examples 例如:
$ Z; q3 {$ A1 y/ x3 @the Earth　地球
- \  s; f# N6 A, [5 b: M  G: f; N# [the Moon　月亮
the east　東面
the west　西面
the Principal　校長
2 W6 F: X0 }1 ~  l, v- n$ G4 tthe President　會長或總統
: v4 d! @3 T2 V# \% Ethe world　世界
: \- Y, }& R7 Bthe Queen　皇后
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" v. N9 X- o- t5 O( w(5) Remember we also use the article "the" when using "superlative adjectives".
2 n8 a* @8 c! V) n  R4 q記著我們在最高級形容詞前面也需要加上 "the" 這字的。
For example 例如:
& _, l0 h6 [$ J3 _My 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:
the first lesson　第一堂
7 k! E; ^6 z: Y5 M3 O( I. K" _the third page　第三頁
  Q4 B( T4 i" Tthe sixth prize　第六名
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(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.
6 |% }+ [) P  m+ b7 o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"。
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For 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.