定冠词

the 这个字是英语中极为常见的字,也是唯一的定冠词。当发言者认为对方已经知道他指的是什麽,就会在名词前加定冠词。至于用定冠词的时机有很多,以下为您列举几种:

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何时要用 the

基本规则

如果先前已提过某件事物,后面要再提及时,就在前面加 the,以表示限定某物。

举例
  • 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.

在假定某物只有某个地方才有时,纵使前面完全没提过,还是可以在名词前加 the,因为对方一听就知道指的是何物。

举例
  • 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.

若句中有特别限定或确定某物,就用 the。

举例
  • 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 来指独一无二的人或物。

举例
  • 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.

在形容词最高级和序数前用 the。

举例
  • 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.

在形容词前用 the 来指整个群体。

举例
  • 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 。

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

若子句是由 only 引导,则在前面加 the。

举例
  • 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.
专有名词

在区域丶河流丶山区丶群岛丶峡谷和海洋等地理名词前用 the 。

举例
  • 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.

在有复数形的国名前用 the 。

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

在含有 republic丶kingdom丶states 的国名前用 the。

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

在报刊名称前用 the。

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

在知名建筑物丶艺术作品丶博物馆丶纪念碑前用 the 。

举例
  • 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.

在饭店和餐厅名称前用 the,但如果是以人名来命名,就不加。

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

在家族姓氏前用 the,但单指一个人的名字则不加。

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

何时不用 the

除了上述几个国家,其他国名则不用 the。

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

语言名称前不用 the 。

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

三餐名称前面不用加 the 。

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

在人名前不用加 the。

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

当称谓或职称与名字连用时,就不用加 the。

举例
  • 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。

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

职业或专业名称前不用加 the。

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

在店家名称前不用加 the。

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

在年份前不用加 the。

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

在不可数名词前不用加 the。

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

在独立的山丶湖丶岛屿等名称前不用加 the。

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

在市镇丶街道丶车站丶机场等名称前,大多数都不用加 the。

举例
  • 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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