Grammar The Article　冠词

冠词是虚词，放在名词之前，用来说明名词所指的人或事物，一般没有句子重音。冠词分定冠词（the）与不定冠词（a,an）两种。

一、定冠词

定冠词“the”用在以元音开头的词前面读[ði]，用在以辅音开头的词前面读[ðə]。例如：

the[ði]old shop-assistant

the[ðə]store

定冠词的意思接近指示代词this,that，表示后面名词所指的是某个或某些特定的人或事物，可用于各种普通名词前面：

Pass me the book,please.（指所看见的这本书）

Li Ming is the manager of our store.（指在我们商店而不是其他商店里的经理）

这种情况称为“特指”。在“特指”的情况下，无论是可数名词或不可数名词，是单数名词还是复数名词，都需要加the。与特指相对，并不指某个或某些特定的人或事物的情况称为“泛指”。

二、不定冠词

不定冠词“a”用于以辅音开头的词前面，“an”用于以元音开头的词前面。例如：a towel,an apple。不定冠词是“一个”的意思，只能用在单数可数名词前面，表示某一类人或事物，以区别于其他类。例如：

I want to have a blouse.（指任何一件衬衫）

This is an iron bed.（指所有铁床中间的一张）

注　一件事物第一次提到时，如果它是可数名词单数，常用不定冠词，而再次提到它时却需要用定冠词，因为这时已经是特指的了。例如：

This is a book.

That is a desk.（第一次提到，泛指）

The book on the desk is an English Dictionary of Business and Economics.

三、一些不用冠词的情况

1.泛指的复数名词前不用冠词。例如：

We are cutters.　These are books on grammar.

2.不可数名词用于泛指的时候不用冠词。例如：

It's lovely weather.　This is paper,that is ink.

3.在专用名词前一般不用冠词。例如：

Shanghai　Fudan University

但有些由普通名词构成的专有名词却要加定冠词。例如：

the Shanghai Friendship Store　the First Department Store

4.在名词前已有作定语用的this,that,my,your,some,no,every等代词时，不用冠词。例如：

This is my piano.　Where is your pen?

5.在季节、月份、星期、三餐饭等名词前，一般不用冠词。例如：

In summer 1985,we had a big exhibition.

You may come to fetch your watch on Saturday.

We'll have lunch here.

6.在某些习惯用法中不加冠词。例如：

go to work（上班）　at home（在家）

after work（下班）　go by bus（乘汽车去）

Grammar Exercises

1.用适当的冠词填空：

1）I have______novel written by______English writer.

2）She was______worker before liberation.Now she becomes______engineer.

3）______sun rises in______east and sets down in______west.

4）______Summer Palace is______most beautiful park in Beijing.

5）There is______bottle on the desk.______bottle is full of ink.

6）It is raining outside now.Take______umbrella with you.______umbrella is in your room.

7）We,Chinese people have three meals______day.

8）______ink in the bottle is red.

9）It will take us______hour and______half to get there by bus.

10）My father is______engineer and my mother is______university teacher.

11）Jack is______honest boy.

12）Oil is______liquid.

13）None of______books can be taken out of______library without permission.

14）______Great Wall is______place which everyone likes to visit.

15）______workers there are very friendly to us.

16）How long will______meeting last?

17）Where did you find______boy?I found him in Room 201.

18）They study at______No.4 Middle School.

19）Can you tell me how to get to______station?Go straight down______street until you come to______bridge.From______bridge you will see______huge building.That is______station.

20）______Party calls on us to serve______people heart and soul.

2.在必要处填入适当的冠词：

1）Doctor:You need______six-week holiday,Mr Wells.

Wells:But,______Doctor,Ican't possibly leave______office during______busiest period of______year.

Doctor:I think you should take my advice,Mr.Wells.______health is far more important,than______work.

Wells:Should I follow what you said,______Doctor?

Doctor:Of course,you should,and have______complete rest for______time.

2）______first time I saw______Thames in 1962,I was very disappointed.I had expected to see______very wide,great river,full of______clear water,with______beautiful houses on______banks.But I went to______south of______London,to______dock area,where______water was very dirty,and______warehouses（仓库）between______London Bridge and______Tower Bridge looked like______dirty grey prisons.