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.
8 E  K7 K1 A, _「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.
  d4 c7 O' ^0 \) q' f1 j* W* h我們會使用 "the" 這個冠詞來表示某個特定的名詞。
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8 H' y: X( ~1 fFor example 例如:
; b3 O% U9 w; `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。)
  X; A$ s, f5 s/ YI want to buy the new blue pen.
% ?7 I! a: C7 S  v2 o2 O1 V- A% v# x(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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I have eaten an egg.
. l# o& u  F, g(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.
4 u- v/ I+ }! \5 Y* |(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".
2 z) ~. F8 q% j; x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"。

; l9 b8 y4 K' Z  {4 L7 UExamples 例子:
There is an elephant in the zoo.
+ S0 V9 F% ]' g  ?8 EThere is a big elephant in the zoo.

- W! D3 B, Z$ `/ j' _9 m3 j7 p(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:
- A6 U# \6 Z& W' {the Earth　地球
: x% s' f0 e9 i8 e9 ^% N* {the Moon　月亮
: _6 Q* F; l& R' s+ z( w; K& Zthe east　東面
8 T; y  P& A8 S  bthe west　西面
' C* J( x2 @1 l7 q. Xthe Principal　校長
: ~) _" A, M/ d# i9 M: j; pthe President　會長或總統
4 r2 m  ?8 D, M/ d7 uthe world　世界
+ l+ x; m2 a5 N5 X8 ]" jthe Queen　皇后
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9 `+ d. K! o. d/ ?1 M(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:
My brother is the tallest one in my family.
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4 I" h# k7 n0 }# W(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:
7 c5 n6 O4 c; L% zthe first lesson　第一堂
the third page　第三頁
) I% F9 U2 f  `the sixth prize　第六名

; e* b) q$ g5 X7 n2 |% K9 f(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.
$ ~9 Y( Q/ ^! H) q5 X0 H$ p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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5 o( G- x5 C: T+ LFor 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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