Article 冠詞

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(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.
5 b3 K/ I% F* c/ r7 u+ {我們會使用 "the" 這個冠詞來表示某個特定的名詞。

' X8 j. w# i: X: g7 a/ s- H5 I/ d" ?For example 例如:
4 e4 w* m: K' r9 cI want to buy a new pen.
' j. J7 h8 x: J$ F6 x6 c(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。)
# r0 \) h& u6 c& F
I have eaten an egg.
3 R( o9 L7 Q; }3 c* X3 X* S7 X(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。)
$ C- p- o# R% m$ ^# FI have eaten the two eggs in my bowl.
& Q( M& |0 |$ I5 p& K(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。)

$ j5 {, o! j0 E6 y0 I(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"。

' \. z; r* B/ ~8 x; [. ?  d) `Examples 例子:
8 m; V: ]$ D" E& q. X0 h  nThere is an elephant in the zoo.
There is a big elephant in the zoo.

6 W( i' K4 z6 T8 Z, x% J(4) We can use the article "the" for persons, places or things which are unique.
3 J6 ]5 P* K! T" z- i& E( [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:
# r0 p) Y0 t, l$ r$ @5 Y9 rthe Earth　地球
; F7 u+ O" O# }+ b# D( uthe Moon　月亮
: n& O2 ?# H! p, c# x9 U% d- C% bthe east　東面
1 g) W6 F: v9 U, u! B  y6 U5 Cthe west　西面
the Principal　校長
the President　會長或總統
0 |4 {% b' s; r9 a" z$ P, g( Tthe world　世界
/ f2 X. m5 t7 i  r  l1 r3 `the Queen　皇后
8 a$ G1 Y* Z# \/ O
(5) Remember we also use the article "the" when using "superlative adjectives".
' t& s9 r7 S6 O& q! o: Y記著我們在最高級形容詞前面也需要加上 "the" 這字的。
/ f$ w% D* Z; p3 a' {. N3 rFor example 例如:
My brother is the tallest one in my family.

( B- w; e0 }8 F3 J/ J# F. @. Z6 E(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
: p& `5 y/ R  ]  M! }% mthe third page　第三頁
2 T& X) m/ s! G; |3 G; `5 t  K  @  Pthe sixth prize　第六名

(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"。

For example 例如：
5 Y* h( ?! e- BI see a cat on the street. The cat is black but it has a white tail. The tail is very long.
4 n& ~6 D* S1 ~( Z, x" q" n2 k5 b