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。

, s2 c$ R1 u6 ~/ A% n9 a) d(2) We use the article "the" to refer to the noun specifically.
8 a% c8 _+ Q7 F4 T( z1 \% Z我們會使用 "the" 這個冠詞來表示某個特定的名詞。

# d! ?; F4 X6 I) Z  b) S. S9 mFor 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。)
% ~1 O+ _" q3 T3 SI 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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I have eaten an egg.
* h' H& q  F$ s( X3 m* S6 }(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.
( Z' M( i) t& A, [1 Q' B* O) `(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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9 W# s: ?% `) C* t8 y(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".
$ `* z; h1 F: `1 y' s) b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:
There is an elephant in the zoo.
' a% `. f' T; z- v: J$ {There is a big elephant in the zoo.

+ `. v$ g& @! c( J; G$ I(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。

  |& a' U) f2 D+ z) d% c) @; sFor examples 例如:
% v4 z1 `3 ~+ I* Mthe Earth　地球
the Moon　月亮
9 [# T, S. E0 K! Ithe east　東面
& O9 w0 W  |: F% s& {the west　西面
the Principal　校長
+ |  r# s; J/ K& Lthe President　會長或總統
# ?4 p# h. |% r, Vthe world　世界
. Y: s! a* d7 S2 \+ c3 Q. u: Dthe Queen　皇后
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(5) Remember we also use the article "the" when using "superlative adjectives".
0 \' q+ P  t4 T5 t/ o/ g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.

+ x* T" X( B2 c- H8 Q4 ]7 @; O" W(6) We also use the article "the" to show priorities:
我們也會用 "the" 來表示先後次序 :
1 O) o- L5 d6 XFor example 例如:
the first lesson　第一堂
; ~" G7 |- Q, I& p( j. bthe third page　第三頁
, i1 \6 \6 O! J- qthe sixth prize　第六名

7 w5 n: X, j# k; l! P  h+ e' o(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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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.