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.
6 C6 X/ B8 W. o+ H0 |8 \我們會使用 "the" 這個冠詞來表示某個特定的名詞。

+ Z2 f4 o8 ]: G$ K1 }" |+ eFor 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。)
! _" B& N7 a, Q4 Q% V7 \; WI 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。)
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6 f0 q8 z2 j' Z4 K9 ~4 O8 Q* o( ~(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".
, ^* Z9 e2 \* y$ a# e0 h/ w  C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.
: E9 [9 x- H5 H- \; eThere is a big elephant in the zoo.

: P+ j  s6 w. O$ c% l6 h2 v(4) We can use the article "the" for persons, places or things which are unique.
! b( i+ Y4 V7 C/ P" U* \3 E4 p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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4 _9 D* x+ n9 L2 m1 ~; tFor examples 例如:
% f7 g) ~0 q  zthe Earth　地球
the Moon　月亮
the east　東面
the west　西面
the Principal　校長
. I) e" I9 x' `# s. z1 {* i; ethe President　會長或總統
the world　世界
4 H7 \' S8 h6 Y. f  A- k2 @+ a5 pthe Queen　皇后
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(5) Remember we also use the article "the" when using "superlative adjectives".
: t( x( s* @  ^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 b& ~  l7 W1 N2 J6 t. }: M5 k(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:
6 s; E4 i8 l+ F( w" Cthe first lesson　第一堂
the third page　第三頁
& M& p( \& h3 O+ P% Ythe 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"。

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.