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.
「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.
) C+ ^. r% `% [9 R& T* V& l& R% @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。)
I want to buy the new blue pen.
0 P! s) D0 \* |" A" m' O2 }& D(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。)
$ N. z6 q. }$ B
I have eaten an egg.
1 B% ^( e  A, R! n% L+ D, U(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.
* ~. v8 \0 ^) r4 z(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。)
6 i* e6 B6 ~" `: ]
8 e8 e8 l5 g" y# H(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".
. h2 W* _9 t8 }& B' x8 l3 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"。
& ]: o, n, G& T  p+ d% }
& }3 ]; T% h; jExamples 例子:
9 D' D' u6 a, d) R: Z$ [There is an elephant in the zoo.
8 M% s+ W3 F6 U0 C& \* ^# R) a: RThere is a big elephant in the zoo.

. ^! Y* n( T1 c! h; S3 n(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。
- Y0 n/ h& m) H8 q
For examples 例如:
the Earth　地球
the Moon　月亮
the east　東面
the west　西面
the Principal　校長
the President　會長或總統
4 I1 e8 I# k6 ]+ l2 Mthe world　世界
& |$ P6 _, t3 K" Lthe Queen　皇后

(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。
For example 例如:
1 W! b3 b+ m1 ^$ R$ kMy brother is the tallest one in my family.

(6) We also use the article "the" to show priorities:
6 m6 O0 l. B+ [) b  H我們也會用 "the" 來表示先後次序 :
6 ^) E$ G, U8 ]1 B$ r7 k1 xFor example 例如:
2 S  c2 c3 J+ m0 c: e+ sthe first lesson　第一堂
the third page　第三頁
the sixth prize　第六名

" v* F4 y4 e7 s& T5 f( M  S5 @(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"。

+ ]5 U. A& {( @# f/ C. |$ NFor example 例如：
8 A8 W* O- n+ n- x- x7 l' H6 bI see a cat on the street. The cat is black but it has a white tail. The tail is very long.
( ?" f, D/ d5 E( W1 y1 i