何時用冠詞
何謂冠詞
千萬別小看冠詞,別認為冠詞只是英文中無關緊要的字詞。試著把選取冠詞想像為識別名詞的過程。在這個過程中,我們使用兩種冠詞:不定冠詞與定冠詞。
不定冠詞
a/an = one
當某名詞第一次出現,對聽者來說是陌生的(不知道說話者指的是何物),或者眾多事物之其中一個 (不確定哪一個),我們會使用a/an。
some = not sure how much/many
當不確定how much /how many時,則使用some,後面接複數名詞或不可數名詞。
( ___ ) = don’t care how much/many
當數量的多寡並非重點時,則無需加入冠詞,此處的概念與使用some相似。
定冠詞
the = that
當該名詞為獨一無二/ 全體/ 特定某物/ 或說話的人已經提到過的,我們會使用定冠詞the,後面可接單數或複數名詞。
如何選擇正確的冠詞
想像你正在煮一鍋湯,添加適當的鹽可添加風味,但過多的鹽則會破壞風味。冠詞的使用也是同樣的道理。使用不定冠詞是最安全的 (多為正確),而常見的寫作錯誤則包含過度的使用“the”。
練習題
如前所述,選擇冠詞可視作一個過程。只要依循以下的過程,大抵可在多數的情況下選對正確 的冠詞:當你第一次提及或介紹某事物,請使用不定冠詞。而在接下來的句子中, 即變為定冠詞。請依序回答以下之練習題。
習題一
使用 a/an, the, some, 填妥下列空格:
問題
1. Bob took out ____ cigarette.
2. He put ____ cigarette in his mouth.
3. He took out ____ matchbook.
4. He lit ____ match.
5. He lit ____ cigarette.
6. He blew out ____ match.
7. He smoked ____ cigarette.
8. He put out ____ cigarette, in ____ ashtray.
所有格代名詞
如果物品屬於某人,可使用所有格代名詞 (my, your, his) 來替代冠詞。
習題二
使用 a/an, the, some, 或所有格代名詞填妥下列空格:
問題
1. Bob opened ____ notebook.
2. He turned to ____ empty page.
3. He took out ____ fountain pen.
4. He took off ____ cap.
5. He looked at ____ blackboard.
6. He took ____ notes.
7. He closed ____ notebook.
8. He left ____ office.
日常事物
當談論到我們天天都會遇見的事物時,我們通常會使用定冠詞,因為大家都知道所指何物 ,如 the post office, the kitchen, the newspaper 。
問題
1. They pulled off of ____ highway.
2. They drove along ____ coast.
3. They stopped at ____ gas station.
4. They asked ____ attendant for ____ directions.
5. They found ____ hotel.
6. They signed in at ____ front desk.
7. They handed ____ bags to ____ bellboy (侍者).
綜合練習
以下題目每題可能會有一個以上的正確答案,而此練習題的目的就是要識別(identify)這些名詞。請記得一開始要使用不定冠詞,待 identify 後再使用定冠詞或所有格代名詞。 每答對一題可得一分。
習題四
使用 a/an, the, some, ____ 或所有格代名詞填妥下列空格:
問題
1. He reached ____ hand into ____ pocket.
2. He took out ____ coins.
3. He picked out ____ dime.
4. He picked up ____ receiver.
5. He inserted ____ dime into ____ slot.
6. He dialed ____ telephone number.
7. He spoke to ____ friend.
綜合回顧
相信大家都曾有錯誤使用 the 的經驗。使用不定冠詞是最保險的(多數為正確) ,僅須遵守前述之規則與過程就可以避免用錯冠詞的狀況。只要記住,少了加鹽的湯其實不會有太大的問題,少了 the 的句子同樣也是。上述我們所提的冠詞規則可應用在 90 %的狀況,然後還是有些特殊狀況需要特別提出來討論。
論文標題與圖表標題
試著移除所有論文標題或圖表標題 (caption)中的 the
“A Pilot Study Examining the Prices and Rates” 應簡化為“Pilot Study Examining Prices and Rates”.
“Fig. 1. The characteristics of …” 則為“Fig. 1. Characteristics of …”即可。
Of
任何時候你遇到介係詞“of”時,我們可使用“the”,有些人會主張 “a”也適用,如 a man of the world。 然而,我們每週編修的五萬字中從未遇過作者使用 a,因此 “the ____ of ____.”絕對是一保險的作法。其他的介係詞 (to, in, on) 也可等同視之,如 the extent to which。
地名
如一地名的結尾為名詞,多數的時候皆須使用“the”,如 The United States of America、the Pacific Ocean、 The Rocky Mountains 等。 當然此規則也有少數例外之處,則需靠讀者在遇到時特地去記憶了。
縮寫與簡寫
縮寫與簡寫之前該使用 a/an 全靠發音來判別。 如果該字第一個發音為母音(vowel),我們會使用 an,如 LED (el-ee-dee) ,所以變成 “an LED”。縮寫字通常則被視為與名字等同,因此你絕對不會使用 “the Bob”, “the SCUBA” 或 “the AIDS”。
習題解答
習題一
1. Bob took out a cigarette. ...................................... first mention
2. He put the cigarette in his mouth. .......................... already mentioned
3. He took out a matchbook. .................................... first mention
4. He lit a match. ....................................................... first mention
5. He lit the cigarette. ................................................. already mentioned
6. He blew out the match. ........................................... already mentioned
7. He smoked the cigarette. ........................................ already mentioned
8. He put out the cigarette, in an ashtray. ................ already mentioned, first mention
習題二
1. Bob opened a/ his notebook. ............................... first mention/ personal item
2. He turned to an empty page. ................................ first mention
3. He took out a/ his fountain pen. ........................... first mention/ personal item
4. He took off the cap. ................................................ There is obviously only one.
5. He looked at the blackboard. ................................. There is probably only one.
6. He took / some notes. ......................................... (plural) first mention
7. He closed the/ his notebook. .................................. already mentioned/ personal item
8. He left the office. .................................................... There is obviously only one.
習題三
1. They pulled off of the highway. ............................. everyday thing
2. They drove along the coast. .................................... everyday thing
3. They stopped at a gas station. .............................. first mention
4. They asked an attendant for /some directions. ... first mention for both
5. They found a/ their hotel. ...................................... first mention/ personal
6. They signed in at the front desk. .......................... only one
7. They handed their bags to a bellboy. .................. personal items/ first mention
8. They went into their room. ..................................... personal
習題四
1. He reached a / his hand into a / his pocket. ....... first mention and personal for both
2. He took out / some coins. .................................... (plural) first mention
3. He picked out a dime. ........................................... first mention
4. He picked up the receiver. ...................................... only one
5. He inserted the dime into a slot. ......................... mentioned/ first mention (more than one slot)
6. He dialed a telephone number. ............................ first mention
習
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