定冠詞

the 這個字是英語中極為常見的字,也是唯一的定冠詞。當發言者認為對方已經知道他指的是什麼,就會在名詞前加定冠詞。至於用定冠詞的時機有很多,以下為您列舉幾種:

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何時要用 the

基本規則

如果先前已提過某件事物,後面要再提及時,就在前面加 the,以表示限定某物。

舉例
  • On Monday, an unarmed man stole $1,000 from the bank. The thief hasn't been caught yet.
  • I was walking past Benny's Bakery when I decided to go into the bakery to get some bread.
  • There's a position available in my team. The job will involve some international travel.

在假定某物只有某個地方才有時,縱使前面完全沒提過,還是可以在名詞前加 the,因為對方一聽就知道指的是何物。

舉例
  • We went on a walk in the forest yesterday.
  • Where is the bathroom?
  • Turn left and go to number 45. Our house is across from the Italian restaurant.
  • My father enjoyed the book you gave him.

若句中有特別限定或確定某物,就用 the。

舉例
  • The man who wrote this book is famous.
  • I scratched the red car parked outside.
  • I live in the small house with a blue door.
  • He is the doctor I came to see.

用 the 來指獨一無二的人或物。

舉例
  • The sun rose at 6:17 this morning.
  • You can go anywhere in the world.
  • Clouds drifted across the sky.
  • The president will be speaking on TV tonight.
  • The CEO of Total is coming to our meeting.

在形容詞最高級和序數前用 the。

舉例
  • This is the highest building in New York.
  • She read the last chapter of her new book first.
  • You are the tallest person in our class.
  • This is the third time I have called you today.

在形容詞前用 the 來指整個群體。

舉例
  • The French enjoy cheese.
  • The elderly require special attention.
  • She has given a lot of money to the poor.

在年代前用 the 。

舉例
  • He was born in the seventies.
  • This is a painting from the 1820's.

若子句是由 only 引導,則在前面加 the。

舉例
  • This is the only day we've had sunshine all week.
  • You are the only person he will listen to.
  • The only tea I like is black tea.
專有名詞

在區域、河流、山區、群島、峽谷和海洋等地理名詞前用 the 。

舉例
  • They are travelling in the Arctic.
  • Our ship crossed the Atlantic in 7 days.
  • I will go on a cruise down the Nile.
  • Hiking across the Rocky Mountains would be difficult.

在有複數形的國名前用 the 。

舉例
  • I have never been to the Netherlands.
  • Do you know anyone who lives in the Philippines?

在含有 republic、kingdom、states 的國名前用 the。

舉例
  • She is visiting the United States.
  • James is from the Republic of Ireland.

在報刊名稱前用 the。

舉例
  • I read it in the Guardian.
  • She works for the New York Times.

在知名建築物、藝術作品、博物館、紀念碑前用 the 。

舉例
  • Have you been to the Vietnam Memorial?
  • We went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa.
  • I would like to visit the Eiffel Tower.
  • I saw King Lear at the Globe.

在飯店和餐廳名稱前用 the,但如果是以人名來命名,就不加。

舉例
  • They are staying at the Hilton on 6th street.
  • We ate at the Golden Lion.

在家族姓氏前用 the,但單指一個人的名字則不加。

舉例
  • We're having dinner with the Smiths tonight.
  • The Browns are going to the play with us.

何時不用 the

除了上述幾個國家,其他國名則不用 the。

舉例
  • Germany is an important economic power.
  • He's just returned from Zimbabwe.

語言名稱前不用 the 。

舉例
  • French is spoken in Tahiti.
  • English uses many words of Latin origin.
  • Indonesian is a relatively new language.

三餐名稱前面不用加 the 。

舉例
  • Lunch is my favorite meal.
  • I like to eat breakfast early.

在人名前不用加 the。

舉例
  • John is coming over later.
  • Mary Carpenter is my boss.

當稱謂或職稱與名字連用時,就不用加 the。

舉例
  • Prince Charles is Queen Elizabeth's son.
  • President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

在有 's 的所有格後面不用加 the。

舉例
  • His brother's car was stolen.
  • Peter's house is over there.

職業或專業名稱前不用加 the。

舉例
  • Engineering is a well-paid career.
  • He'll probably study medicine.

在店家名稱前不用加 the。

舉例
  • I'll get the card at Smith's.
  • Can you go to Boots for me?

在年份前不用加 the。

舉例
  • 1948 was a wonderful year.
  • He was born in 1995.

在不可數名詞前不用加 the。

舉例
  • Rice is an important food in Asia.
  • Milk is often added to tea in England.
  • War is destructive.

在獨立的山、湖、島嶼等名稱前不用加 the。

舉例
  • Mount McKinley is the highest mountain in Alaska.
  • She lives near Lake Windermere.
  • Have you visited Long Island?

在市鎮、街道、車站、機場等名稱前,大多數都不用加 the。

舉例
  • Victoria Station is in the centre of London.
  • Can you direct me to Bond Street?
  • She lives in Florence.
  • They're flying into Heathrow.
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