冠词A/An/The的用法

1. a/an 的用法

Rule One: if a word is countable (e.g., one book, two books), you must always use an article (or my, his, etc). For example,

I read a book. √

I read book.

More examples,

He drives an old car. √

He drives old car.

Rule Two: We use a in front words that start with a consonant sound (e.g., a horse, a carrot) and an in front of words with a vowel sound (e.g., an apple, an elephant). For example,

There is a horse. √

There is an horse.

More examples,

There is an apple. √

There is a apple.

Rule Three: never use a or an with a word that is plural (e.g., book, trees) or uncountable (e.g., water, advice). For example,

I asked her for advice. √

I asked her for an advice.

2. a/an 还是 the

Rule Four: basically, we use a/an when we do not need to say which thing we are talking about. We use the to talk about a specific thing. For example,

I caught a train to London. √ (it does not matter which train)

The train was late. √ (that particular train was late)

Rule Five: we often use a/an when we mention something for the first time, and then change to the when it is clear which specific thing we are talking about. For example,

He was talking to a man. The man was laughing. √

She gave him a present. The present was very expensive. √

Rule Six: we also use the when it is obvious which thing we are talking about, or when there is only one of something in the world. For example,

Could you shut the door, please? √

I cleaned the bathroom this morning. √

He traveled around the world. √

The sun is hot today. √

Rule Seven: we use the before the names of places where we go for services when they are the ones we usually go to. For example,

I need to go to the supermarket. √

She went to the doctor’s. √

3. Exceptions

Exception One: people do not use a/an before the names of meals. For example,

We had lunch at noon. √

We had a lunch at noon.

Exception Two: we do not use a/an before words like school, prison, or college when we are talking about them in a general way. For example,

I hope to go to college. √

I hope to go to a college.

More examples,

He spent three years in prison. √

He spent three years in a prison.

Exception Three: with the word hospital, there is a difference between British and American English. For example,

He was in hospital. √ (British English)

He was in the hospital. √ (American English)

参考文献

[1. 不定冠词/定冠词/零冠词之例句] https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2015/08/19/a-an-and-the-how-to-use-articles-in-english/