为什么冠词对华校学生特别难
中文里完全没有冠词这个概念。我们说”我看到猫”,不需要在”猫”前面加任何词。但英文必须说”I saw a cat”——少了这个”a”就是语法错误。
这不是你不够聪明的问题,而是中文的语言结构本来就不需要冠词。你的大脑从小就没有建立”冠词直觉”,所以每次写英文句子时都需要刻意思考该用哪个冠词。
好消息是:英文冠词遵循明确的规则。学会这三个规则,你就能正确使用大部分冠词。
覆盖90%用法的三大规则
规则一:用”A”或”An”表示泛指、首次提到的单数可数名词
当你第一次提到某样不特定的东西时,用”a”或”an”。
- “I saw a cat in the garden.”(任何一只猫,第一次提到)
- “She is a teacher.”(一位老师,许多老师中的一位)
- “He ate an apple.”(任何一个苹果)
A还是An?
- 辅音音开头用”a”:a book, a university(发音像”yoo”开头), a one-way street(发音像”wun”开头)
- 元音音开头用”an”:an apple, an hour(H不发音), an honest person
关键: 看的是发音,不是字母。
规则二:用”The”表示特定的、已知的、之前提过的事物
当双方都清楚指的是哪个东西时,用”the”。
之前已经提到过:
- “I saw a cat. The cat was black.”(我们都知道是哪只猫——刚才提到的那只)
只有一个存在:
- “The sun rises in the east.”
- “Please close the door.”(这个房间的门)
- “The principal gave a speech.”(我们学校只有一个校长)
被上下文限定为特定的:
- “The book on your desk is mine.”(特定的——你桌上的那本)
- “The students in this class work hard.”(特定的一群学生)
规则三:泛指的复数或不可数名词不加冠词(零冠词)
谈论一般性的事物时,不用冠词。
- ”∅ Students should study hard.”(学生,泛指)
- ”∅ Water is essential for life.”(水,泛指)
- ”∅ Education is important.”(教育,作为概念)
比较一下:
- ”∅ Dogs are loyal animals.”(狗,泛指所有的狗)
- “The dogs in my neighbourhood are noisy.”(特定的那些狗)
需要记住的特殊情况
加”The”的地名
- the United States, the Philippines(含”united/republic”或复数形式的国名)
- the Nile, the Amazon(河流)
- the Pacific Ocean(海洋)
- the Himalayas(山脉)
不加”The”的地名
- ∅ Malaysia, ∅ Japan(大多数国名)
- ∅ Mount Kinabalu(单个山峰)
- ∅ Penang, ∅ Langkawi(岛屿)
机构与活动
- Go to ∅ school / ∅ church / ∅ hospital(表示活动目的,不是建筑物)
- Go to the school / the church(表示去那栋建筑物)
“She goes to school every day.”(去上学——活动) “She went to the school to collect her report card.”(去那栋学校建筑)
餐名
一般用法不加冠词:
- “I had ∅ breakfast at 7 a.m.”
- 但是:“The breakfast at that hotel was amazing.”(特定的那顿早餐)
SPM中最常见的冠词错误
错误一:在泛指名词前多加”The”
错误: “The pollution is a serious problem.” 正确: ”∅ Pollution is a serious problem.”
错误二:特定名词漏掉”The”
错误: “She is best student in class.” 正确: “She is the best student in the class.”
错误三:单数可数名词漏掉”A/An”
错误: “She is teacher.” 正确: “She is a teacher.”
错误四:不可数名词前用”A”
错误: “I need a information.” 正确: “I need ∅ information.” 或 “I need a piece of information.”
常见不可数名词:information, advice, furniture, equipment, homework, knowledge, luggage, news, research, traffic, weather, work
错误五:混淆”A”和”An”
错误: “She is a honest person.” 正确: “She is an honest person.”(H不发音 = 元音音)
错误: “He goes to an university.” 正确: “He goes to a university.”(发音像”yoo” = 辅音音)
快速判断流程
- 是特定的东西吗? → 用”the”
- 是泛指的东西吗?
- 单数可数名词?→ 用”a/an”
- 复数或不可数名词?→ 不加冠词
- 之前提到过吗? → 用”the”
- 只有一个吗? → 用”the”
练习题
填入正确的冠词(a, an, the, 或 ∅):
- _____ teacher asked _____ students to open _____ books.
- I want to be _____ doctor when I grow up.
- _____ honesty is _____ best policy.
- She lives in _____ apartment near _____ school.
- _____ Petronas Twin Towers is in _____ Kuala Lumpur.
答案:
- The teacher asked the students to open their books.
- a doctor
- ∅ Honesty is the best policy.
- an apartment near the school(或”a” school,如果不特指)
- The Petronas Twin Towers is in ∅ Kuala Lumpur.
想彻底掌握冠词和语法?
冠词是一个需要练习和即时反馈的语法点。在SPMEnglish.com.my,我们会用中英双语教学,找出你的冠词使用模式并系统地纠正。WhatsApp我们,提升你的语法准确度。