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.
! M  s% ~6 L1 Q「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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(2) We use the article "the" to refer to the noun specifically.
6 g/ }" r8 |/ q3 a" f, D我們會使用 "the" 這個冠詞來表示某個特定的名詞。

+ ~2 Y) W, d7 kFor example 例如:
I want to buy a new pen.
- C& l' V% o' l: E4 s(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。)
+ m7 Q* U- z- V8 i+ @7 OI 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。)

1 J; w0 w4 q% ]8 J  r3 SI have eaten an egg.
9 Y' U5 w" ?# H7 ?3 v" 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。)
9 r2 R. A) l$ h; A3 G) dI have eaten the two eggs in my bowl.
2 D9 _+ f, ]& L7 H9 \. s/ ~(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。)
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(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"。

Examples 例子:
$ G% }* z0 O/ T3 _  H& h1 nThere is an elephant in the zoo.
. v% Z/ I& u, R% w8 IThere is a big elephant in the zoo.

  [$ |7 w7 J: v1 z(4) We can use the article "the" for persons, places or things which are unique.
- k8 t7 d3 Y* }# H/ z如果所指的人物、地方或東西是獨特的，我們會用 "the" 這冠詞。
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For examples 例如:
the Earth　地球
the Moon　月亮
the east　東面
the west　西面
- H8 A0 A7 j/ `2 c3 k: H5 vthe Principal　校長
& ~: R3 ~. u2 A6 ^8 R  Wthe President　會長或總統
the world　世界
1 c" {' P* h; o1 l% g, c4 }5 qthe Queen　皇后

3 z4 N( k* }) v(5) Remember we also use the article "the" when using "superlative adjectives".
( N) e5 [/ y2 }2 w) R8 U5 a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:
: R9 E/ Q" W: T. I2 t2 hMy brother is the tallest one in my family.

(6) We also use the article "the" to show priorities:
' B" }$ w) X5 ]- Q+ l# Y我們也會用 "the" 來表示先後次序 :
7 z+ a7 I* N9 t( _: O3 _/ D4 aFor example 例如:
the first lesson　第一堂
4 i- Y. S- j5 F2 A, f7 y- E1 }+ Wthe third page　第三頁
  S# g7 ]+ T/ U5 d, d! D: T; |5 _the sixth prize　第六名

9 y6 C$ F# C7 }6 D  d' p& 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.
1 R  u7 t+ ^( d3 s8 h" N# w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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" e* Y, q* i7 f! R. a6 |For 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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