英语讲义【5】定冠词的常见用法

　　在《定冠词省不得》一文里，谈到了 5 个必须用定冠词的例子。

　　定冠词也出现在其他 11 种情况中，非同时注意不可。

　　⑴用在单数名词前面，以代表同类的人或物，如：

　　● The ox is a useful animal for farmers.

　　● This type of work is easier for the teacher than for the student.

　　但当涉及 man 和 woman 这两个名词时，一般上不必用 the ：

　　● Man is mortal.

　　● Woman differs from man in many ways.

　　⑵用在单数名词前面来表示有关名词的抽象概念，如：

　　● Dont play the fool.

　　● Peter is fond of the bottle.

　　⑶用在数目字前面，如：

　　● Mr Li is somewhere in the 30s.

　　● She was not yet born in the 50s.

　　⑷用在测量单位前面，以表示每（each/per），如：

　　● Some factory workers are paid by the hour.

　　● This car usually does 15 kilometres to the litre.

　　⑸用在比较级形容词或副词之前，以加强其意义，如：

　　● The teacher explained the idea again, but his students were none the wiser.

　　● Your mind will function all the better if you have some time away from your work.

　　⑹用在the more/betterthe more/better结构里，如：

　　● The more we practise, the more we improve.

　　● The better the staff, the better the performance.

　　⑺用在乐器名称之前，如：

　　● The piano sounds better than the organ.

　　⑻用在剧院、电影院之前，如：

　　● Do you often go to the cinema?

　　● Tom went to the Lido last week.

　　⑼用在四个方向之前，如：

　　● The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

　　⑽用在复数姓氏之前，以表示有关家人，如：

　　● The Browns will visit us tonight.

　　⑾用在某些惯用语之前，如：

　　● We know the ins and outs of the matter.

　　● Compare the pros and cons before you make your decision.