Articles — a, an, the · 冠词 — a、an、the
a, an, the — small words, big job
- Articles come before nouns. English uses them a lot — Chinese doesn't.
- a / an = one, not specific. the = a specific one we both know.
- Sometimes we use no article at all.
A cat came in. The cat now owns the sofa.
a、an、the —— 小词,大作用
- 冠词放在名词前面。英语用得很多,而中文没有冠词。
- a / an = 一个、不特指。the = 双方都知道的那一个。
- 有时候不加冠词。
一只猫走了进来。现在那只猫拥有了沙发。
a / an — one, not specific
- Use before a singular countable noun: a book, an apple.
- a before a consonant sound; an before a vowel sound.
- Listen to the sound: an hour (h is silent), a university (it starts "yu-").
a / an —— 一个、不特指
- 用在单数可数名词前:一个a 问题 /question(一个问题)、an apple。
- a 用在辅音音前;an 用在元音音前。
- 关键看读音:an hour(h 不发音)、a university(读作 "yu-")。
a or an? Listen to the sound · a 还是 an?听读音
Choose a / an by the SOUND that follows, not the letter. · 根据后面的读音选 a / an,而不是看字母。
Choose the correct article: I waited for ___ hour. · 选出正确的冠词:I waited for ___ hour。
“hour” starts with a vowel sound (h is silent) → an hour. · hour 以元音开头(h 不发音)→ an hour。
Translate into English: 她是一名工程师。 · 翻译成英语:她是一名工程师。
“engineer” starts with a vowel sound → an: “She is an engineer.” · engineer 以元音开头 → an:She is an engineer。
the — the specific one
- Use the when we both know which one: Close the door.
- For something mentioned again: I saw a cat. The cat was black.
- For unique things (the sun, the moon) and before superlatives (the best).
the —— 特定的那一个
- 双方都知道是哪一个时,用 the:请Please 关close （这扇）the 门door.(请关门。)
- 再次提到时:I saw a cat. The cat was black.
- 独一无二的(the sun、the moon)和最高级前(the best)。
Complete with one word: ___ sun is very bright today. · 用一个词填空:___ sun is very bright today。
The sun is unique → use “the”: The sun is bright. · 太阳独一无二 → 用 the:The sun is bright。
zero article — no word at all
- Plural / uncountable nouns in general: I like music. Cats are cute.
- Names of people, most countries, cities: Tom, China, Beijing.
- Fixed phrases: go to school / bed / work.
零冠词 —— 什么都不加
- 泛指的复数 / 不可数名词:我I 喜欢like 音乐music.(我喜欢音乐。)
- 人名、大多数国家、城市:Tom、China、Beijing。
- 固定搭配:go to school / bed / work。
Talking about music in general — is “I like the music.” correct? · 泛指音乐时,“I like the music.” 对吗?
For music in general, use no article: “I like music.” · 泛指音乐时不加冠词:I like music。
Common mistakes
- ❌ I want to be teacher. → ✓ I want to be a teacher. — jobs need a / an.
- ❌ I went to home. → ✓ I went home. — no to, no the before home.
- ❌ He plays the football. → ✓ He plays football — but: play the piano.
常见错误
- ❌ I want to be teacher. → ✓ I want to be a teacher。—— 职业前要加 a / an,"当老师"直译最容易丢。
- ❌ I went to home. → ✓ I went home。—— home 前不加 to,也不加 the。
- ❌ He plays the football. → ✓ He plays football;但乐器要加:play the piano。
Which article? Match each phrase. · 选哪个冠词?把短语配对。
Unique things take the; a / an follow the sound; fixed phrases like go to bed take none. · 独一无二用 the;a / an 看读音;go to bed 等固定搭配不加冠词。
Is this correct? “She plays the piano.” · 这句对吗? “She plays the piano.”
Yes — instruments take the: play the piano / the violin. Sports take none: play football. · 对——乐器要加 the:play the piano / violin;运动不加:play football。
- a / an = one, not specific (an before a vowel sound).
- the = the specific one we both know.
- No article for general plurals / uncountables and most names.
- a / an = 一个、不特指(an 用在元音音前)。
- the = 双方都知道的那一个。
- 泛指复数 / 不可数名词和大多数名称不加冠词。
Write one sentence that uses “the” for something specific (for example: the door, the teacher, the book on your desk). · 写一句话,用 the 指一个特定的东西(例如:the door、the teacher、the book on your desk)。
Example: “Please open the window.” (a specific window we both know) · 例如:Please open the window。(双方都知道的那扇窗)