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.
; u! ^+ _! Q1 i+ Q) N$ r& Q* A, v「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。

5 r) J2 T1 w. ]; V: N2 v: b(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。

& W/ V" h1 W; [0 Y; ?0 kFor 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。)
I 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。)
0 ?3 E  D! T$ I) U5 T0 T
I 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。)
9 {* c! h+ o. n- W% F4 kI have eaten the two eggs in my bowl.
3 H4 A+ G6 ^: l(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。)
& y7 X% d& A. M0 n1 u2 S
(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".
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"。

) L* ~8 f$ [2 J  jExamples 例子:
2 X! r+ J9 H% E) `) S6 k+ l0 u+ [There is an elephant in the zoo.
There is a big elephant in the zoo.

5 [- \$ l/ ?, t" e9 C(4) We can use the article "the" for persons, places or things which are unique.
如果所指的人物、地方或東西是獨特的，我們會用 "the" 這冠詞。

For examples 例如:
the Earth　地球
the Moon　月亮
8 I4 @2 F& l  a% xthe east　東面
the west　西面
' w& Z, O2 Z! `0 k+ ^! N+ w# ~( u$ Ethe Principal　校長
the President　會長或總統
* k. E( C( k9 F8 x, Vthe world　世界
* N$ n5 Z. e- z, n& p) xthe Queen　皇后
$ C) z$ d& f" r* Z
  Q: [4 Z4 n6 H; X4 [(5) Remember we also use the article "the" when using "superlative adjectives".
記著我們在最高級形容詞前面也需要加上 "the" 這字的。
# \, v$ A& R$ V! `: z0 [5 L1 BFor example 例如:
$ i( @6 g3 a( w' v/ O8 YMy brother is the tallest one in my family.

(6) We also use the article "the" to show priorities:
% Z2 w) n4 ], y, j我們也會用 "the" 來表示先後次序 :
6 Y- D% l: T5 v. Y  W$ v  d8 `For example 例如:
the first lesson　第一堂
; ?  O" b8 b0 {( ]7 M3 `+ jthe third page　第三頁
the sixth prize　第六名
& [8 d. N1 l1 Z& P; ^+ A6 n
0 K+ P) o$ I# Q. g3 r, a: c(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.
  }- ~& u3 n2 T* O8 j' W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"。
4 w. E2 g7 r8 N* ]2 ^- L) w
For example 例如：
! D; f+ v' r4 qI see a cat on the street. The cat is black but it has a white tail. The tail is very long.