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.
- g2 U) |  ]( ~( ~9 y9 [7 b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:
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。)

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。)
I have eaten the two eggs in my bowl.
1 P  g' o7 D# u9 K" n) f4 b: b3 M4 R(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。)

& H/ K. g* Q7 L" N+ N: K+ X3 E(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".
3 T2 u  m/ w0 x: E) p0 l& p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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# g4 t7 P, o! t5 c- @Examples 例子:
There is an elephant in the zoo.
There is a big elephant in the zoo.
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(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。

0 T1 ]: v4 H( _4 ~For examples 例如:
% H  T  w& D% r' rthe Earth　地球
the Moon　月亮
/ Y; i* _* P" A) `9 wthe east　東面
. X- k  F) n" Y8 q1 \- ^the west　西面
4 C( |# m: m' t5 ~1 Z! j( ?& pthe Principal　校長
the President　會長或總統
9 C5 I& ?! ^- }( Q( b. X" ethe world　世界
the Queen　皇后
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# K2 B7 f0 [! a" {(5) Remember we also use the article "the" when using "superlative adjectives".
) C# w; O$ ?# F5 C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:
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 :
4 ?% Q# E9 {" w, mFor example 例如:
/ k' ?; c, D  v* H: dthe first lesson　第一堂
  O8 {% \4 t, M9 w; k! @- Xthe third page　第三頁
the sixth prize　第六名

: g- {5 A3 p0 T  X/ h. H! ~: G(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.
0 g$ z# U; A( x# p: r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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* }3 D* _) C3 T" kFor 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.
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