英語のヒント: A (or An) or The

こんにちは！
今日はもっと英語のヒントを教えてあげましょう。
今日は A (An) or The について言たいです。
多くの日本人でさえ、これらの単語の使い方に問題があります。

"A (an) or the" are signals that a noun is about to appear.

*There are other signals that a noun will follow, such as:
pronouns(my, your, his, her, its, our, their, whose,
this, that, all, any, every, many,more, most, much, few, neither,either, several and some.

For now, we will concentrate only on"a (an) or the"


"A" is used before a consonant sound. Not just
nouns.:
例: a banana, a tree, a picture, a car, a way,

"An" is used before a vowel sound(AEIOU).
Not just nouns.
例: an hour, an honorable person, an egg,
an apple, an idea


****A (or an) or the signal that a noun is coming****

It may follow immediately:
例 the car, a sunset, an apple

Or after modifiers:
例 the expensive car, a fantastic sunset,
an amazing appetizing apple

** A (or an) is used with singular counting nouns**

counting nouns-- are persons, places, or things that can be counted:
例: one girl, two girls: one city, three cities, one
apple. four apples

noncounting nouns-- are things that can't be counted.
例: water, air, knowledge, love etc.


If a singular counting noun names something not known to the reader or listener, the noun should
be preceded by "a or an."

例: Mary arrived in a cool car. (Just one cool car)
We are looking for an apartment close to the lake.
(Just one apartment )


****Use "the" with most nouns whose specific
identity is known by the reader or listener.****

It should be understood to the reader or listener if:

1) The noun has been previously mentioned.

2) Words follow the noun that describe it in some way.

3) Words such as, best or most make the noun's
identity more specific.

4) The noun describes a unique person, place or
thing.

5)The situation makes the noun's identity
understood

例: "A" truck loaded with dynamite cut in front of
our van.
When "the" truck stopped a few seconds later, we almost ran into it.

*The noun truck is preceded by "A" in first
sentence because the reader is being introduced. *The noun truck is preceded by "the"in the second sentence since readers now know the specific
truck being discussed.

例: Bob warned me that "the" gun on the top shelf was loaded.

*The words "top shelf" makes the gun's identity specific.

例: Our small daughter dated "the" tallest boy in her class.

*The word "tallest" makes the noun "boy"
specific.

例: During an eclipse, one should not look
directly at "the" sun.

*There is only one sun in our solar system ,
so its identity is understood.

例: Please don't slam "the" door when you leave.

*Both the speaker and the listener know which
door is meant from the comment.

すみません、長いだから。

この私は希望を助けます。