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。
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(2) We use the article "the" to refer to the noun specifically.
* k' z# ~1 s+ D( }0 N我們會使用 "the" 這個冠詞來表示某個特定的名詞。

For example 例如:
I want to buy a new pen.
9 e* N, O( i6 y' n5 I  Q(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。)
/ J4 @" j4 Z' y+ P3 v$ v5 ]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。)
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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 have eaten the two eggs in my bowl.
! r4 I: b3 u# h# S( k(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"。
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Examples 例子:
There is an elephant in the zoo.
) g2 v& s7 K/ }  gThere is a big elephant in the zoo.
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0 g+ u# ]3 b7 \# j; D. \" P(4) We can use the article "the" for persons, places or things which are unique.
3 v0 S6 i# C) h' E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:
; E; G  S% f- }/ N9 ]/ ]the Earth　地球
& f! X: s# ~2 m" n" w/ W% H* [. _the Moon　月亮
the east　東面
' `2 v4 t- t5 [2 A8 U& U5 nthe west　西面
the Principal　校長
the President　會長或總統
2 n( a4 @' a0 F1 P, Z8 Ythe world　世界
the Queen　皇后

(5) Remember we also use the article "the" when using "superlative adjectives".
9 S4 A. U! z8 w+ R記著我們在最高級形容詞前面也需要加上 "the" 這字的。
: J% W% g( ~2 b- WFor example 例如:
My 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
7 P( j8 R1 z/ a. n# w  `5 e) h) ]0 hthe third page　第三頁
the sixth prize　第六名
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! z7 a) c$ H$ }+ I5 P1 b# b$ a& J(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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/ T1 r4 [' A+ j/ P' o2 p# xFor example 例如：
6 R" @, ]6 _! r! n  @3 t* M) t3 mI see a cat on the street. The cat is black but it has a white tail. The tail is very long.