贄殿遮那 2008-3-12 21:11
【COMMON Mistakes OF Chinese】Article (a, an, the)
In fact, a lot of people, especially "Hongkonger", always make careless mistakes in "Article". Most of them cannot recognize when to use and how to use [color=DarkRed]"a", "an" and "the"[/color]. First of all, [color=DeepSkyBlue][i][u]what is the definition of Article?[/u][/i][/color] Articles belong to a class of words called [color=Red][u]determiners[/u][/color] which [color=DarkOrange]show whether a noun or noun group is either definite or indefinite[/color]:
[color=Olive][i] [color=RoyalBlue]Definite: The surfer This coin Every person[/color]
[/i][/color][color=Lime][i] Indefinite: A surfer Any coin Some people[/i][/color]
[size=4][color=RoyalBlue][b][u]Definite and Indefinite articles[/u][/b][/color][/size]
[b]The definite article, [/b][color=Red][b]the[/b][/color][b], is used with a noun to show[/b][color=Red][b][i][u] a particular case[/u][/i][/b][/color][b]. For example,[/b]
[b] Give me the apple, please. [/b][color=SandyBrown][b] (A particular apple)[/b][/color]
[b]The indefinite article, [/b][b]a[/b][b] and[/b][b] an[/b][b], are used with nouns to show [/b][color=Red][b][i][u]a general case[/u][/i][/b][/color][b]. For example,[/b]
[b] Give me a banana, please. [/b][color=DarkOrange][b](Any apple)[/b][/color]
[b] Note - The articles [/b][color=SeaGreen][b][i]"a", "an" and "the"[/i][/b][/color][b] may also be called [/b][color=DarkOrchid][b][i]demonstrative adjectives[/i][/b][/color][b] which show whether the noun they refer [/b]
[b] to is [/b][color=YellowGreen][b][u]singular or plural [/u][/b][/color][b]and whether it is [/b][color=DeepSkyBlue][b][u]located near to or far [/u][/b][/color][b]from the speaker or writer.[/b]
[size=4][b][u]When to use and How to use[/u][/b][/size]
[b]1. Use [/b][color=Red][b]A[/b][/color][b] before words beginning with consonants :[/b]
[b] [color=YellowGreen] a book, a hotel, a house, a man[/color][/b]
[b]2. Use [/b][b]A[/b][b] before words beginning with U if they have a long U SOUND:[/b]
[b] [color=RoyalBlue] a unicorn, a unit, a uniform, a university[/color][/b]
[b]3. Use [/b][color=Red][b]AN[/b][/color][b] before words beginning a, e, i, o:[/b]
[b] [color=Teal]an apple, an egg, an idea, an orange[/color][/b]
[b]4. Use [/b][color=Red][b]AN [/b][/color][b]before words beginning with u if they have a short U SOUND:[/b]
[b] [color=SlateGray] an uncle, an understanding, an urgent message, an upward movement[/color][/b]
[b]5. Use [/b][color=Red][b]AN[/b][/color][b] before words beginning with a silent H:[/b]
[b] an hour, an heir, an honest mistake[/b]
[b]6. Use [/b][color=Red][b]THE[/b][/color][b] before a particular word:[/b]
[b] [color=Lime] the United States, the Earth, the king[/color][/b]
[box=DeepSkyBlue]
[size=3][b][color=Magenta][u]EXTRA-BOX[/u][/color][/b][/size]
[color=SeaGreen][i]The Definite Article[/i][/color]
[color=Red]The girl who lives next door [/color] → [color=Blue] a specified noun [/color]
[color=Red]The Earth travels round the sun [/color] → [color=Blue]a unique object[/color]
[color=Red]The French, the rich [/color] → [color=Blue]an adjective used as a noun[/color]
[color=Red]The best book I have ever read[/color] → [color=Blue]superlatives[/color]
[color=YellowGreen][i]Zero Article[/i][/color]
[color=Sienna]Women live longer than men[/color] → [color=DarkSlateBlue] plural nouns in general statements[/color]
[color=Sienna]Tom, Sweden, Friday, Easter, summer[/color] → [color=DarkSlateBlue]names, countries, days, festivals, seasons[/color]
[color=Sienna]Time passes quickly[/color] → [color=DarkSlateBlue]abstract nouns[/color]
[color=Sienna]a man, an idea [/color] → [color=DarkSlateBlue]singular nouns, not specified[/color]
[color=DarkRed]Twice a day [/color] → [color=DarkSlateBlue] expressions of frequency[/color]
[color=Sienna]What an awful shock! [/color] → [color=DarkSlateBlue]exclamations
[/box]
[color=Lime][b]Thank you for your attention. >__<"[/b][/color]
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[[i] 本帖最後由 贄殿遮那 於 2008-3-12 21:50 編輯 [/i]]