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.
/ f, Z0 R; h# D( M2 C「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。
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& J+ Z6 w1 u3 D; S  Q) h(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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For example 例如:
, [7 E+ ?9 H9 h3 b9 O* G5 HI want to buy a new pen.
; _- i4 F9 B& J& T, h' g(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。)
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/ W" F1 O9 b1 I2 b/ N/ Z4 q4 q) jI 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。)
) J9 z2 j$ F: V5 ^" M- xI 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".
! f3 }) P5 h4 N) G! S8 E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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' j" w. o% {' b9 xExamples 例子:
There is an elephant in the zoo.
. y  }' d- b$ [& H6 AThere is a big elephant in the zoo.

, Y8 e. M& y5 n5 @(4) We can use the article "the" for persons, places or things which are unique.
" c& k- [" K" r3 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。

For examples 例如:
the Earth　地球
. j( g1 A$ d; L  G5 j  Fthe Moon　月亮
- U0 z0 N9 U/ z8 Rthe east　東面
8 O) u/ P# K' U. G. j+ t" {the west　西面
the Principal　校長
the President　會長或總統
! G5 l# g/ d  N& C: Bthe world　世界
the 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。
2 S# d9 F  v; gFor example 例如:
& }( k% F6 r5 M) ^My brother is the tallest one in my family.

9 J5 y9 z6 U0 s+ C( Z3 `- b(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 w3 D; P9 B; l% E* D; l2 athe third page　第三頁
  H1 Z$ ^, O8 H4 g+ v# l# O" Jthe 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.
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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# G; s9 X0 V# {! r: `% cFor example 例如：
3 f2 s- X. a5 @8 ^, k; K- D$ D& FI see a cat on the street. The cat is black but it has a white tail. The tail is very long.
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