When do English use a and an before words? ..

Please read it carefully. The indefinite article has two forms: "a" and "an". "A" is used before words that start with consonants, and "an" is used before words that start with vowels. Judging whether a word starts with a vowel or a consonant is based on pronunciation, not letters. Generally, the initials are a, e, f, h, j, l, m, n,.

1. is used before the singular form of a countable noun, meaning "one"

There is a tiger in the zoo.

There is a tiger in the zoo.

2. Represents a kind of person and thing.

Tigers can be dangerous.

Tigers can be dangerous.

3. Express the meaning of "one"

A gentleman wants to see you.

A gentleman wants to see you.

Express the meaning of "same"

They are almost the same age.

They are almost the same age.

These two shirts are about the same size.

These two shirts are about the same size.

Express the meaning of "every"

We go swimming four times a week.

We go swimming four times a week.

6. Used as a predicative before singular countable nouns to indicate identity and occupation.

My mother is a teacher.

My mother is a teacher.

7. The person or thing mentioned for the first time did not specify which one.

Once upon a time, there was an old king who had a very beautiful daughter.

Once upon a time, there was an old king who had a very beautiful daughter.

8. In British English, polysyllabic words starting with "h" can be preceded by "an" if the first syllable is not stressed.

There is a hotel near here.

There is a hotel near here.

9. In such an equivalent sentence pattern.

He is quite a good actor.

He is quite a good actor.

Don't be in such a hurry

Don't be in such a hurry

10. exclamatory sentence what ...

What a beautiful girl she is!

What a beautiful girl she is!

Used in some phrases expressing quantity:

Lots and lots

One of a pair.

many

A dozen is a dozen (but a dozen can also be used)

The extensive use of a large number of definite articles [edit this paragraph] 1. Used of someone or something.

This is the house where Lu Xun once lived.

This is the house where Lu Xun once lived.

Used to refer to the person or thing clearly pointed out by both sides of the conversation.

Please open the door.

Please open the door.

3. Used to retell the person or thing mentioned above (use "a or an" for the first time and "the" for the second time)

There once lived a lion in the forest. Every day, lions let small animals.

Looking for food for him.

Once upon a time, there lived a lion in the forest. Every day, the lion asks the small animals to find food for him.

4. Used before ordinal numbers and superlative adjectives.

January is the first month of the year.

January is the first month of the year.

Shanghai is the largest city in China.

Shanghai is the largest city in China.

5. Represents something unique in the universe.

Sun, Sun and Moon

Earth, sky, sky

World world

6. Refers to proper nouns composed of common nouns.

West Lake West Lake Great Wall Great Wall

United States, United States and United Nations

Usage of definite article -2

7. Indicate direction and orientation

East is in the east and west is in the west.

The front is the front and the back is the back.

At the bottom at the bottom at the top.

Right is right, left is left.

8. In front of geographical terms such as oceans, rivers, lakes, mountains, straits and bays.

Pacific, Pacific, Yellow River and Yellow River

Taishan Tianshan Taiwan Province Strait Taiwan Province Strait

9. Before the plural surname, it means a family.

The Becks came to see me yesterday.

The Becks came to see me yesterday.

10. Used with some adjectives to nominalize adjectives and indicate a class of people or things.

Poor, rich, rich

Sick patients and wounded

Okay, okay, beautiful, beautiful.

1 1. Used before nouns to indicate class and political party.

Working class, working class

The Communist Party of China (CPC) China * * * Production Party.

Used in very emphasized sentences.

This is just the book I want.

This is the book I want.

13. In the comparative sentence of more, the more

The more you drink, the more you like it.

The more you drink, the more you like it.

14. This means that when playing an instrument, there should be one in front of it.

play the piano

play the violin

[Chinese musical instrument nouns are not used before the article: playaerhu (erhu)]

15. Some fixed expressions

In the morning in the morning in the afternoon in the afternoon.

Go to the cinema to watch movies in the evening.

Go to the theatre. Go to the theatre all year round.

On the way to ... ...

16. Singular countable nouns can indicate a class of people or things.

A horse is a useful animal.

A horse is a useful animal.

Note: There are two ways to write such a sentence.

A horse is a useful animal.

Horses are useful animals.

17. In the sentence pattern of "verb +sb". +preposition +the+ a part of the body ",use the instead.

Use personal pronouns.

Take sb. Grab someone's arm. S arm

Hit sb. On the face.

Blush

In the structure of lame right leg, the usage of the zero article should be used before the noun. There is no article before a proper noun.

China China Europe Europe.

Ray Feng Lei von William Shakespeare William Shakespeare

Generally, there is no article before the month, day and festival.

Sunday in January, Sunday in January

Christmas Christmas Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving

National Day National Day Labor Day

Comparison: ... on a Sunday morning.

On a Sunday morning ...

Note: Spring Festival should be added before national festivals.

3. Generally, no articles are added before three meals and four seasons.

I have lunch at school.

I have lunch at school.

Summer is the best season for swimming.

Summer is a good season for swimming.

I had a big lunch yesterday.

I had a big lunch yesterday.

The dinner provided by Mr. Smith is very good.

The dinner hosted by Mr. Smith was really delicious.

I will never forget the summer we spent in Hawaii.

I will never forget the summer we spent together in Hawaii.

(express special meaning)

Play ball games

Play basketball, play volleyball, play volleyball.

Playing football is to play football.

5. There is no specific material noun.

This cart is made of wood.

This cart is made of wood.

The wood outside is all wet.

All the wood outside is wet.

6. There are no concrete uncountable abstract nouns.

Time is precious.

Time is precious.

Contrast: The time of the play is 1990s.

The background of this play is the 1990s.

7. After the plural form of unspecified countable nouns.

I like tomatoes.

I like tomatoes.

8. Mountain peak

Mount Qomolangma

9. fixed phrases

Go to school, go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep.

Go by train or by boat.

Eat in the hospital.

Studying at school, studying at school.

Noon night noon night

Midnight. Midnight in town.

10. Nouns without articles in independent structures

A boy came in with a book in his hand.

A boy came in with a book in his hand.

1 1. generally refers to human beings.

We all die.

Everyone will die.

12. In the sentence pattern of "class++noun class++noun"

What kind of flower is this?

What kind of flower is this?

I like this kind of book.

I like this kind of book.

13. Words referring to positions and titles, such as king, captain, president, chairman, etc.

He is the captain of this team.

He is the captain of this team.

As the chairman of the Committee, I declare the meeting open.

As the chairman of the Committee, I declare the meeting open.

The collocation of goods and three meals

When the nouns of three meals are used alone, there is usually no article in front.

In addition to adding adjectives before the nouns of three meals:

We have breakfast at eight o'clock.

We have breakfast at 8 o'clock.

He gave us a hearty breakfast.

He treated us to a hearty breakfast.

I was invited to dinner.

They invited me to dinner.

I was invited to a dinner to welcome the new ambassador.

I was invited to a banquet to welcome the new ambassador.

Scots have porridge for breakfast.

Scots have porridge for breakfast.

The wedding breakfast was held at her father's house.

The wedding brunch was held at her father's house. [Edit this paragraph] Preposition phrases and articles 1. When the following nouns refer to their "main purpose", that is, their related behaviors, use zero articles.

Eat at the table.

It's beside the table.

Study at a desk.

It's beside the table.

At school is at school.

At school. At school.

Class is class.

In class, in class.

In bed

In bed. In bed.

Going to jail is going to jail.

Prison is prison.

be hospitalized

In the hospital (on business) in the hospital

Go to school. Go to school.

Go to school (on business)

Go to bed.

Go to bed.

Go to the hospital

Go to the hospital. Go to the hospital.

Two.

happen

Replace this place

Substitution

In the place of ... ...

Just in case.

In the case of ... ...

There is no doubt about it.

It's absolutely impossible that something goes wrong.

Phrases that usually use indefinite articles

After a while.

Suddenly, suddenly

under normal conditions

So, as a result,

In fact,

In general

To be at a loss is to be at a loss.

hurried

to some extent

to sum up in a word

I'm sorry ...

End ... end. ...

end

come to a conclusion

Have a good time.

Take a break, take a break.

catch cold

Talk to ... ...

Have an eye for

Make a living

Make a fire. Make a fire.

deceive

Take a walk [edit this paragraph] article location 1) indefinite article location

Indefinite articles usually precede nouns or noun modifiers. note:

A. after the following adjectives: so, what, many, half,

I have never seen such an animal.

Many people are suitable for this job.

B. When the adjective before the noun is modified by adverbs to, so, too, how, however, when sufficient, the indefinite article should be placed after the adjective:

This is the most enjoyable day I have ever spent.

Such a short time.

It's too far.

C. Used with singular nouns, followed by articles.

But there are adjectives before rather and quit, and indefinite articles can be placed before and after it, such as quite a few.

D in the adverbial clause guided by as, when and slogan are adjectives, the indefinite article is followed by adjectives:

Brave as he is, he trembles at the sight of a snake. Brave as he is, he shivers at the sight of a snake.

When nouns are modified by comparative adjectives, indefinite articles are usually placed after comparative adjectives.

2) Positioning the article

The definite article usually appears before nouns or noun modifiers, but after all, it is before both, double, half, two, three times and nouns.

All the students in the class went out. [Edit this paragraph] Both the article and adjective+noun structure 1) have articles, which mean two different things.

He keeps a black cat and a white cat. He has a black cat and a white cat.

The black cat and the white cat are hers. Both the black cat and the white cat are his.

2) If the last adjective has no article, it refers to a thing.

He keeps a black and white cat. He keeps a cat with flowers. [Edit this paragraph] The article is wrong. In addition to mastering the basic rules of using articles, we should not stick to the rules and pay attention to the flexible use of articles:

1. Nouns representing unique things in the world usually precede the definite article the; But if there is a modifier before the noun, you can also use the indefinite article a, an.

The world, a peaceful world.

The moon, the bright moon

Generally, there is no article in front of the noun that means three meals a day, but if there is an attribute in front, the indefinite articles a and an can also be used.

Have you had dinner?

We had a big dinner.

3. Generally, the definite article The is used before the noun indicating the musical instrument, but if the attributive modifier appears in front, the indefinite articles A and an can also be used.

He started his day by playing the violin.

He is playing a borrowed violin.

4. Prepositions are used together with nouns representing means of transportation to express a general way. Generally, there is no article in front of them, but if modifiers appear in front of nouns, articles should be added in front of them.

He goes to the station by car.

He went to the station in a black car.

Generally speaking, there is no article before the noun that indicates language, but if the word language appears later, the article the should be added before it.

English = English French = French

6. When turn is used as a copula, there is no article before the singular noun used as a predicative.

Many years later, he became a writer Many years later, he became a writer. ) [Edit this paragraph] The article is divided into fixed crown and indefinite crown.

The indefinite articles A and An, and the meaning of "-"refers to the general meaning.

Use, order, orientation, superlative.

There is only one object in the world, and people or things are mentioned again.

In the following cases, the article is free, and there are three meals in the theme game.

The noun plural table refers to the previous season, week and month.