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.
1 Z, Q6 X& L7 C& Y; U5 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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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  j# s$ U7 s% R6 bI 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。)

) Q* E" v. u- `5 b0 ?(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".
- M' |) S" H& V! |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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Examples 例子:
There is an elephant in the zoo.
1 z* O' C' C  rThere is a big elephant in the zoo.

(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。
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For examples 例如:
% r4 R  o% m; N6 V! c! bthe Earth　地球
, [0 i( z! Z1 ythe Moon　月亮
the east　東面
# Z  f& t4 V5 m8 ~  hthe west　西面
$ B/ x4 _9 r+ B$ mthe Principal　校長
the President　會長或總統
+ W  K7 @9 d9 z1 U' Jthe world　世界
7 O! T: n" ~# {2 W8 Bthe Queen　皇后

(5) Remember we also use the article "the" when using "superlative adjectives".
! l0 z# p3 T1 m' q6 _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:
/ y/ c% ^9 X6 k( N3 p; h  P" zMy brother is the tallest one in my family.
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(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
the third page　第三頁
the 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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; e" @  ]8 D: I3 hFor example 例如：
0 \4 Q/ g' w& N3 T. Z1 h0 e6 XI 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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