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冠词在英语中只有3个词，分为两类：不定冠词a与an，定冠词the。 a用在以辅音开始的单数名词前，an用于以元音开始的单词前。不定冠词用来表示一类事物中泛指的某一事物，而定冠词则用于特指的某一个或某些事物，可用于不可数名词、可数名词单数及可数名词复数前。
(二) 正误辨析
[误]This building is an university.
[正]This building is a university.
[析]a用于以辅音音素开始的单词前，而an用于以元音音素开始的单词前，而不是元音字母开头的单词前。university的第一个音素是[j]，所以用a而不要用an。又如：There is a “n” in the word.是错句，应为：There is an “n”in the word.因字母n的发音的第一个音素是元音。要注意的还有hour因其第一个字母h不发音，所以应该用an hour。例如：
I need an hour to finish the work.
It is a useful dictionary.
It is a European country.
I bought a used car.
[误]I need a umbrella because it looks like raining.
[正]I need an umbrella because it looks like raining.
[析]因umbrella的第一个音素是元音，所以应用an.常用的情况有：an old man, an English teacher, an elephant, an idea, an hour ago, an honest boy…。
[误]“Can you help me” “Sorry, I'm in hurry.”
[正]“Can you help me” “Sorry. I'm in a hurry.”
[析]不定冠词的主要用法如下：
1. 用来表示一类人或事物，如：She is a teacher.
2. 指某一类人或事物中的一个，如：An elephant is bigger than a horse.
3. 泛指某一人或事物，如：A man is waiting for you at the school gate.
4. 相当于“one”的概念，如：I just bought a new dictionary.
5. 其主要的难点是用在固定词组中：
如：have a walk/a rest /a look
又如：in a hurry 匆匆忙忙
make a face 作鬼脸
do somebody a favour 帮某人忙
a number of =many
又如：have a good time (玩得好)
have a cold (感冒)
have a headache (头痛)
have a break=have a rest
[误]I bought the dictionary yesterday. A dictionary is very good.
[正]I bought a dictionary yesterday. The dictionary is very good.
[析]在文章中第一次提到某物时用不定冠词，而第二次提到时用定冠词。
[误]Please turn off lights before you leave.
[正]Please turn off the lights before you leave.
[析]虽然是第一次提到某物但说话双方均知其所指，也应用定冠词。
[误]There are nine planets around a sun.
[正]There are nine planets around the sun.
[析]世上独一无二的天体等名词前应加定冠词，如：the earth, the moon, the sun, the sky, the sea.
[误]I live on a second floor of this building.
[正]I live on the second floor of this building.
[析]在序数词，形容词最高级前要用定冠词。如：He is the oldest in the family.
[误]I want to learn the second language this term.
[正]I want to learn a second language this term.
[析]在序数词的含意不是顺序中的第一第二，而其意在于再学一个，再来一个时，应用a，本句的意思应为：这学期我要学一门第二外语。
[误]Mississippi is one of the longest rivers in the world.
[正]The Mississippi is one of the longest rivers in the world.
[析]在河流名称前应加定冠词，如：the Yellow River(黄河)。
[误]Look, there are Alp.
[误]Look, there are the Alp.
[正]Look, there are the Alps.
[析]具体的某一座山不加定冠词，如：Mountain Tai.但在山名称前加定冠词后，其山名要加s，来表示山脉。the Alps即为阿尔卑斯山脉。如:The Alps are in the center of Europe.
[误]Times is one of the oldest newspapers in the world.
[正]The Times is one of the oldest newspapers in the world.
[析]报刊名称前应加定冠词。
[误]Rich are not always happy.
[正]The rich are not always happy.
[析]在形容词前加定冠词表示一类人，而在姓的前面加定冠词，姓后加s表示某一家，如：The turners are going to move to New York.
[误]I like to eat bread for breakfast. Bread sells in this shop is very good.
[正]I like to eat bread for breakfast. The bread sells in this shop is very good.
[析]物质名词特指时也应加定冠词。
[误]The sun rises in east.
[正]The sun rises in the east.
[析]在方向、方位前应用定冠词，如：in the east, in the west, in the north, in the south, in the direction 及in the past, in the future
[误]Do you know who invented telephone
[正]Do you know who invented the telephone
[析]在特定和专有事物或名称前要加定冠词，
如：the English Channel 英吉利海峡
the Panama Canal 巴拿马运河
the Suez Canal 苏伊士运河
[误]Would you please buy some food for the supper
[正]Would you please buy some food for supper
[析]泛指一日三餐前无定冠词。
[误]I like to climb the mountain in the autumn.
[正]I like to climb the mountain in autumn.
[析]一年四季前不用定冠词，如：Spring is the best season in a year.
[误]Sometimes my parents come to school to see me.
[正]Sometimes my parents come to the school to see me.
[析]有些名词被用作其本身原来所含目的时不加冠词，如：go to school上学，leave school(辍学)，after school(放学)，但如果当建筑物讲时应加冠词，如例句中其父母来校不是上学，而是看望孩子，则要加定冠词。又如，He was in hospital for two days.(他在医院住院两天了。)而：He went to the hospital to see his mother.他去医院看望他的母亲。
