the . . .the

the26
the . . .the1
【问】 Th e highe r th e st a nd a rd of living and th e gr eat er th e n at iona l weal th , th e .
A . gr eat e r is th e amount of pa pe r is u sed
B . gr ea te r amount of p ap er is used
C . amount of pa pe r is u sed is gr eat er
964 the24
D . gr eat e r the amount of pa pe r used ( TOEFL , 86 .5 )
试题要求选D, 但我认为, 如果选D, 则全句不是一个完整的句子, 因为它缺谓语
( used 是及物动词的过去分词, 在这里不能看作是谓语) 。

【答】 在th e . . .th e 结构中, 如果谓语动词是联系动词b e, 可以省略。如果把后面分句
( 即主句) 的谓语动词补上去, 则为:“ th e gr eat er th e amount of p ap er use d is”。下面是与
试题相类似的实例:
1. T he st ronge r___________ magn et , the gr ea te r th e numbe r of lin es of magn et ic for ce .
A . of B . th e C . is the D . is of th e ( TOEFL , 85 .8)
2. T he coa r se r th e se diment , .
A . whe r e th e beac h is s tee pe r a nd n a rrowe r
B . a nd th e st eepe r and na rrowe r the b each
C . th e beac h is s tee pe r a nd n a rrowe r
D . th e stee p er an d nar rower th e beach ( TOEFL , 84 .8 )

the27
the . . .the2
【问】 Th e younge r ( is ) th e c hild , th e more is th e c hild􊳰s n eed of sleep .
Gen er ally t he high er ( is ) t he f eve r , the quic ke r ( is ) th e pulse .
( 上海第二医学院主编《英语语法》, p .20 ,《英语》第二册)
如果谓语动词为b e , 是不是像上面的例句所表述的那样前后两个分句都必须主谓
倒装?

【答】 要想把这个问题搞清楚, 必须把位于前面的从句( 第一个th e . . .) 和位于后面的主
句( 第二个t he . . .) 分开讨论。
从句( 第一个the . . .) 中的谓语动词, 不管是be , 还是其他动词, 都不用倒装( 连系动
词be 常常省略) 。因此, 上面两个例句中( is ) 的位置是不正确的。下面的托福题可以证
明这一点:
Th e st ronge r magn et , t he gr ea te r th e numbe r of lines of magn et ic for ce .
A. of B. th e C. is th e D. is of the ( TOE FL , 85. 5 )
答案为B( the ) , 而把C( is th e ) 判为错误。
再请考察下面的实例:
1. T he bigge r the y are[ CSV] , th e h a rde r the y f al l .( RCD)
2. T he la te r you ar ri ve[ASV] , t he b et t e r the food is .( CGEL )
3. T he les s wi t a ma n has[OSV] , th e l es s h e knows th at h e want s i t .( Prov)
而在主句( 第二个th e . . .) 中, 主语和谓语既可以采用正装语序, 也可以采用倒装语
序。这里没有语法规则上的强制要求, 作者可根据结构特点和信息焦点的分布来安排
语序:
1. T he la te r you a r rive , the be t te r th e food is .[ CSV] (CGEL)
2. T he mor e I think a bout i t , t he les s I l i ke i t .[ ASV] ( Cronin )
3. T he mor e so cia lism spr ead s, t he st ronge r become th e forces of peace .[ CVS ]
4. T he n ea re r t hei r doomdr aws , the mor e d espe r at ely wi l l the enemy p ut up
st r uggle .[ AVS]

the19 the King and Queen

【问】 The King a nd Q uee n h av e visit ed t he exhibit ion .请问Quee n 之前为什么省略定冠
词th e ?

【答】 英语里有这么一条规则: 当两个或两个以上的人或事物被看作是一起活动时, 除第
一个名词使用冠词之外, 其余的名词都可以把定冠词th e 省略掉:
1. T h e cat , dog , and p ar rot seem to g et along ve ry well wit h one a noth e r .
猫、狗和鹦鹉似乎彼此相处得很好。
2. T h e bo ys and gi rls a r e educa te d toge the r .
男孩和女孩一起受教育。
但是, 当把两个或两个以上的人或事物单独考虑时, 则每个名词最好都用定冠词:
T he re d , the whi te, and the blue cloth s and n a pkin s a r e ke pt in diff

the18 the John Lennon

【问】 人的姓名作为专有名词, 其前是不能加定冠词的。但下列句中的姓名前却加了定
冠词, 这是怎么回事? You don􊳰t mea n th e Pro f essor H ar t ?

【答】 放在姓名前的定冠词有时是表示“知名的”、“ 著名的”的意思。例如:

1. A: I u se d to know John Le nnon quit e well .
B: Sur ely you ca n􊳰t mea n the John Le nnon ?
A: 我过去就和约翰· 列农很熟。
B: 想必你不是说那位著名的约翰· 列农吧?

2.“Sh e is a dis ta nt r elat ive of H enry Ford .”
“ I s sh e , indeed ? T he He nry Ford ?”
“Yes, th e H enry Ford .”

the16 the hand/ his hand

【问】 Th e b asilis k liza rd ca n run
A
on th e
B
hind le gs at
C
sp eeds up to
D
seve n miles pe r
hou r . ( TOEFL , 83 .5 )
我看不出上面判错题中的B ( th e ) 有什么错误。《高分托福文法》( p .63 ) 解释说:
“ 改为i ts。因为‘ 后腿( hind le ges ) ’, 是属于‘ 蜥蜴( liza rd )’的一部分。”但是, 我从
教科书上学到: 在表身体部位的名词之前通常使用定冠词th e。例如, He took h er
by the h and .( ALD) I caught him by the s hould er .

【答】 定冠词或物主代词与表身体部位的名词连用的问题是一个很难回答的问题。语言学家们对此尚未做出完全令人满意的总结。但是, 这个问题是托福考试多次考核的内
容, 因此不得不试着回答一下。

当表示身体部位的名词充当介词的宾语, 并且前面有身体部位的所有者充当直接宾
语时, 常常使用定冠词th e , 而不使用物主代词my , his , you r 等。例如:

1. Th ey pull ed h er by the h ai r .( CGE L) 他们扯着她的头发。
2. I pa t t ed hi m on the s hould er .( PEG) 我拍了拍他的肩膀。
3. Th e ston e hit th e bo y on the h ead . 石头打中了孩子的头部。

从上面的例句可以看出, 在这里使用th e 有两个限制: 一是t he + 名词必须是介词的
宾语, 二是其前必须有身体部位所有者充当宾语。在其他情况下, 就必须使用物主代词,
因此所提到的托福题中的th e 必须改为i ts。下面的例子可进一步证明这一点:
1. I s hook his ha nd . 我跟他握了手。
2. He􊳰s b roke n his leg .( CGE L) 他摔断了腿。

有的语言学家特别强调指出: 当身体部位与直接宾语所表示的人或事物无关时, 就
必须使用物主代词:
Sh e throws th e ba ll wit h her lef t h and .( CGEL) 她用左手掷球。
还有一点是应当在这里补充指出的, 就是学生经常问: 像I shook him by the h and .
这类结构中的the 能否用his 来代替? R .Q ui rk 等是这样回答的: 常常是可能的, 尽管有
时候不大符合英语习惯。接着他们列举了几个正确例句: I shook him by his h and . He
kisse d h e r on her c hee k . S he p at t ed him on his shoulde r .

the15 the five of us/ five of us

【问】 Thr ee of Ar chimede􊳰s ext ant wor ks a re d evot ed to plan e ge omet ry .
[ 原译] 阿基米德现存的三部著作都是献给平面几何的。( 语法)
从译文看, 阿基米德现存的著作似乎只有三部, 原文是这个意思吗?

【答】 原文完全没有这样的意思。要知道, 在数词之前有无定冠词th e , 意思是不同的。
F ive o f us visit ed the school .
我们当中有五个人参观了这所学校(“ 我们”的总数超过五个) 。
T h e f i ve o f us visi ted th e sc hool .
我们五个人参观了这所学校(“我们”的总数恰好是五个) 。
在你所引用的句子里, 在thr ee 之前没有用定冠词the , 说明阿基米德现存的著作不
止是“三部”。
[ 试译] 阿基米德现存的著作中有三本书是专讲平面几何的。

the14 the English

【问】 《英语惯用法大辞典》( 中国科技出版社, 1994 , p .684 ) :“ English 作名词时, 作‘ 英格
兰人’解, 也泛指全部英国人。”

既然English 可以用作名词, 作“ 英格兰人”解, 为什么不可以说: He is a n Englis h ?
另一个问题是: 用作名词的Englis h 本身能够“泛指全部英国人”吗?

【答】 由于t he English 是指( 作为一个民族的) 英国人, 所以我国出版的许多辞书都将这
里的Engl is h 看作是名词( 英国人) , 例如《新英汉辞典》、《远东英汉大辞典》、《现代英语用法词典》等。但是, 如果把th e English 中的Englis h 看作是名词, 就会出现许多无法解释
的问题。例如: 在My f aht e r is English .这个句子里, 既然Englis h 是名词, 那么, 为什么
其前不能加不定冠词a n ? 还有, 既然English 是名词, 为什么the English 总是指作为一
个民族的英国人, 而不能用来指一个特定的英国人? 由此可以看出, 这里的English 并不
具有名词的语法特征。那么它是个什么词呢? 它是个形容词!

大家知道, 有些形容词加上定冠词, 可以表示一类人或一类事物, 例如, the poor ( 穷
人) , th e young ( 年轻人) , th e old( 老年人) , th e un employ ed ( 失业者) , the e xploit ed ( 被剥
削者) , the good ( 好的东西) , t he impossible ( 不可能的事情) , th e un known ( 未知事物) 。
如同th e poor , the e xploit ed 是指一类人, 而不是指个体的人一样, t he Englis h 也是只能
指作为一个民族的英国人, 而不能指个体的英国人。把它看作是形容词, 这就自然而然
地回答了你的第二个问题: 单单English 本身不能泛指全部英国人, 就如同poor , young
本身不能泛指作为群体的“ 穷人”,“ 年轻人”一样。

把t he English 中的Englis h 说成是形容词, 并不是我们的独特见解, 许多英语辞书
都是这么解释的, 例如ALD 和CGE L。后者把th e English 中的English 这类词称为用作
名词短语中心词的形容词( adject ives as h eads of noun phr ases ) 。对于the Fr en ch , t he
Dut ch , t he I ris h , th e Wels h , th e Br it ish 可以作同样的解释。(

the12 the blue or the green dress

the12
the blue or the green dress
【问】 I don􊳰t know wh eth er I pr ef er t he blu e or gr een dres s .这个句子有毛病吗?

【答】 当用表示选择关系的or 来连接名词时, or 后面的名词不能与or 前面的名词共用
一个定冠词, 而必须重复定冠词: . . .the blue or th e gr een dr ess。
Do you want to buy sea ts in the orc hes t r a or th e balc ony ? ( FWF )
您要买正厅的还是包厢的座票?

the7 play the piano/ play piano

【问】 Alice is fond of pla ying pia no w hile Hen ry is int er est ed in liste ning to
music .
A. ( 不填) ; th e B. ( 不填) ; ( 不填)
C. th e; ( 不填) D. the ; th e ( 全国高考英语试题, 1989 )

答案为C。但听一位美国老师说, 选B 也是对的。这使我感到很惊讶。各类标准
化英语考试都特别强调: 在表示乐器的名词( 如piano ) 之前必须加定冠词。


【答】 这类考试忽略了英语的发展以及美国英语的用法。请看John East wood 在
O x f or d Guide to Engl ish Grammar ( 1997 年版) 中的论述:
“ Th e Br it ish use the wi th a musical inst rume nt ( pla y the piano ) , but Ame r ica ns
some times leav e i t out ( p la y piano) .”
[“英国人在表示乐器的名词之前使用th e ( play th e piano ) , 但是美国人有时省略这
个th e ( pla y pia no) 。”]

the6 【问】

the6
【问】
Tr adit ional ly , th e Pr eside nt of the Unit ed St at es is a

A
civilia n; so i t is al l th emore r ema r ka ble
B
th at t he Gen e ra l Eisenhower
C
should h av e ac hie ved
D
an ov ererwhelming major ity in t he elect ion .( TOEFL)
请分析上句中的错误。

【答】 通过这道试题我们可以掌握使用冠词的一条规则: 带有称号的人名一般是不用冠
词的。例如:

Profes sor Brown Dr Smith
Gove rnor Nelson Gen e ral MacAr thur

定冠词表类指

the1( 定冠词表类指)

【问】 T he US infa nt ryman , while r equi r ing f a r too luxur ious logist ica l s uppor t , put up a
nice fight in Fr a nce . . .

[ 原译] 那个美国步兵在需要过于奢侈的后勤支持的同时在法国进行了顽强的战
斗⋯⋯
th e US inf ant ryma n 是指“那个美国步兵”吗? 这种译法似乎与句意不符。

【答】 应当记住, 定冠词也能表示类指( 泛指或一般指) , 即表示具有共同特性的整个种类
的人或事物, 起着与不定冠词差不多相同的作用。例如:

1. T h e tige r is a da ng e rou s a nimal .
老虎是危险的动物。

2. T h e hou sewif e h as a ha rde r life tha n th e office wor ke r .
家庭妇女的生活要比坐办公室的妇女艰难。

3. I t h as conve r t ed the physician , the lawye r , th e pr iest , th e poet , the man of
scie nce , into i ts p aid wagel abour er s .( Mani f esto o f th e Communist Par t y , p .34 )
它( 资产阶级) 把医生, 律师, 教士, 诗人和学者变成了它出钱招雇的雇佣劳动者。

在你所提问的句子里, th e US infa nt ryma n 不是指“ 那个美国步兵”, 而是指“ 美国步
兵”的总称。

请做下面的英语试题( 选择) :
Ale xa nde r Gr a ham Bell inv ent ed t elephone in 1876 .
A .( 不填) B .a C .th e D .on e ( 全国高考英语试题, 1991 )

the3 ( 物质名词与定冠词)

原來不可數名詞也可用a, an

>>


the3
( 物质名词与定冠词)

【问】
Accu stomed　to th e c offee in Columbi a, Ju an said th a t th e c offee　
should alwa ys　be　mad e s t rong e r tha n it us ual ly　is in the Unit ed St at es. ( TOEFL )
我看不出这道题有什么错误, 请指教。

【答】 通过对这道题的讨论, 我们能更好地了解英语冠词的用法。英语里有一条使用冠
词的规则: 当不可数名词( 包括物质名词) 表示类指( ge ne r al r ef er en ce ) 时( 即指类别时) ,
既不能使用定冠词, 也不能使用不定冠词, 而要使用零冠词( th e ze ro ar ticle ) ( 例1 ～ 4 以
及上面的试题) 。只有当不可数名词表示特定指时, 才可与定冠词连用( 例5～ 7 ) ; 只有当
不可数名词表示大类别中的某一种( 小类指) 时, 才可与不定冠词连用( 例8～ 10) 。

1. Su gar is b ad for you .( LEG) 糖对你是有害的。
2. Mi l k is good for you .( CGE L) 牛奶对你是有益的。
3. I􊳰v e a lwa ys pr efe r re d co f f ee to tea . 比起茶来, 我总是喜欢喝咖啡。
4. Steel is an alloy of i ron .( LEG) 钢是铁的合金。
5. T he sug ar y ou bou ght y ester da y h as got d amp .( LEG) 你昨天买的糖受潮了。
6. the co f f ee in Columbia ( TOEFL) 哥伦比亚的咖啡
7. H elp ! H e􊳰s fall en into the water .(MrAr thur ) 救命! 他掉进水里去了。
8. Modoc is a ve ry good wine . 法国的麦道克酒是一种很好的酒。
9. T he Nor th sea p roduces a light oi l . . .(L EG) 北海出产一种轻油⋯⋯
10. This is a ve ry good co f f ee . Is it Brazilia n ? 这是一种非常好的咖啡, 它是巴西
咖啡吗?

American history vs the history of America

the( 抽象名词与定冠词)

【问】 the his tory of Ame r ica , Ame r ican his tory

为什么第一个名词短语带定冠词, 而第二个却不带?


【答】 不可数的抽象名词( 如h a ppin ess , scien ce, the ory , pr act ice , p rogr es s, history ,
a r t , evolution , phylos ophy , a rc hi tec tur e, mu sic ) 在指类别时是不加冠词的。按照英语
惯用法, 当这些名词受形容词修饰时, 仍然不用加冠词, 例如:
Anglo-Saxon ar chit ectur e , Jap an ese his tory/ Eu rop ean history , huma n evolut ion ,
16th centu ry history , medie val a r t ( 中世纪艺术)

但是, 当这些名词有后置定语时, 则常常使用定冠词:

the a rc hi tectu re of Angro-Sa xon
the history of Jap an/ Eu rop e
the evolution of ma n
the history　of the 16th centu ry
the a r t of the Middle A ges

让我们从英语原著上摘取一些例句:

1. S he􊳰s studying Eu rop ean histor y .( CGE L)
她正在研究欧洲史。

2. New ar ts h av e bee n born in the cour se of the histor y o f m an .( Fox )
新的艺术产生于人类历史的进程中。

3. T he r e ha ve b een ma ny ch ang es in the histor y o f the Eng lish languag e .( LDCE )
英语在发展过程中有过许多变化。

_________ a daily basis

2 [singular] the way things are organized or arrangedon a regular/permanent/part-time/temporary basison a daily/day-to-day/weekly basis
http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/basis

The roof of a car

1)

a) A roof of a car is made of many different materials

b) The roof of a car is made of many different materials

2)

a) The branch of a tree will make decent firewood

b) A branch of a tree will make decent firewood

If we're talking about ageneral reference, not a spefic one, what's the correct ones ? a or b or both? if so what's the difference? What comes into play? Any extra comments would be appreciated.

答:

In US English, there is no effective difference. The sentences that use the definite article are still not talking about a truly specific item since the indefinite article preceding the source negates any particularity.

In US usage the ... a ... is probably more frequent than a ... a ..., perhaps to help the listener focus on the part being described, or perhaps simply to avoid repetition.

SUPPLEMENT

Note that the examples given all talk about hypotheticals. They do not refer to a particular branch, tree, roof or car. While the ... a ... seems to be more definite than a ... a ..., the second indefinite article keeps the discussion hypothetical.

If the construction were changed to have only one article, it would have to be indefinite to preserve the hypothetical form.

A car roof is made of many different materials

and

A tree branch will make decent firewood

but not

The car roof is made of many different materials

or

The tree branch will make decent firewood

The latter two describe a particular roof and branch, not the theoretical roof or branch.

There are times that general reference descriptions use the definite article to describe a single item. In texts or narrations a singular example may stand in for the whole class.

The oak tree is a member of the deciduous group of trees.

This is a rather academic style, and in common speech would seem a bit pedantic.

詳細請看:

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/132828/of-articles-general-references/132847#132847

A young age

Consider this example:

People tend to understand and use sarcasm from a young age.

People tend to understand and use sarcasm from young age.

Which one of these is grammatically correct and why?

答:

The only example of where I would use 'young age' without an indefinite article, would be if I formed it into what is effectively a combined noun e.g. 'Young age is no excuse for misbehaviour'.

I might use 'young' by itself, such as in: 'Our dialect is something we learn from young'. Otherwise I believe that "young age" would always need to be preceded by the indefinite article, as in: 'I was taught English from a young age'.

On the other hand 'old age' can be used variously: e.g. 'She has retained her health into old age', or 'Living to a very old age is a mixed blessing', or 'Ninety-nine is an old age by any reckoning'.

Curiously 'middle-age' which tends, more often than not, to be hyphenated, never seems to take an article. e.g. 'The onset of middle-age can be a problem to some people' or 'It is a hobby people often take up in middle-age'.

參:http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/138562/which-is-correct-from-a-young-age-or-from-young-age

On generic reference 關於類指

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/147367/a-few-notes-on-generic-reference

In English, generic reference takes three possible forms:

A. Cats are cute.

B. A cat is cute.

C. The cat is cute.

But the names of nationalities seem to me to make an exception to this rule. As far as I know, when referring to all the members of a nation, you can only use the C version: The Italians are musical, or The French are posh, or The British are cold.

Why is it that in this case only C is considered grammatically correct? If all the Italians, or all the French, or all the British are musical, posh, or cold, why can't we also say:

A. *Italians are... // *French are... // *British are...

or

B. *An Italian is... // *A French is... /// *A British is...

?

答:

I don’t agree with the premise. 

We can, with generic reference, say all of the following:

The Italians are musical, but the British excel in poetry.

Italians may be musical, but you can’t beat Germans for a good brass band.

The Italian is musical, where the Frenchman is artistic.

An Italian is musical, but a Spaniard is more passionate.

Your Italian is musical, but your Englishman prefers football.

What is the rule for using “a” or “an” in a sentence? [duplicate]

呢篇講的問題比較簡單,但答案指出了y-glide這個consonant之特別:

問:If I remember correctly back to my school days, the rule is to use "a" if the next word starts with a consonant, or "an" if the next word is a vowel.

For example:

• This is a banana.
• This is an egg.

If the above is correct, then why does this sentence sound wrong...?

• The account requires an username.

答:

When a word begins with a u, sometimes it a acquires what linguists call a "y-glide": a pronunciation that makes it sound like it begins with a "y":

• user (yoozer)
• uniform (yooniform)
• ubiquitous (yoobiquitous)

And so on.

Now think of words you pronounce that begin with "y": a youth, a yew — you wouldn't say "an youth" or "an yew".

So we say "a user" but "an understanding" — just that simple.

an acronym or an initialism?

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/1016/do-you-use-a-or-an-before-acronyms

問:
99% of the time, I'm clear on when I should use "a" versus "an." There's one case, though, where people & references I respect disagree.

Which of the following would you precede with "a" or "an," and why?

FAQ
FUBAR
SCUBA

答:

It depends on whether the abbreviation is an acronym or an initialism. As "fubar" and "scuba" are usually pronounced as a word (making them acronyms), it would make sense to say "a fubar" and "a scuba diver". "FAQ" is a bit harder, because I have heard people say it like an initialism: "‹f›‹a›‹q›", while others pronounce it as an acronym /fæk/. Therefore, one should write either "a FAQ" or "an FAQ" depending on how that person pronounces it, ie, whether it is an acronym or an initialism.

Are there any simple rules for choosing the definite vs. indefinite (vs. none) article?

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/2031/are-there-any-simple-rules-for-choosing-the-definite-vs-indefinite-vs-none-a


這答案幾好:

Well, if you insist on the rule being simple, here you are:

a = some, any
the = this, that

Don't put an (= any) article before a (= any) noun if the (= that) noun is preceded by:

a number
a possessive adjective ("my", "his", "our"...)
a "no", "some" or "any"
a "this", "that", "these" or "those"

first prize or the first prize

今日問了一個問題:

I saw a sentence today:

Lily was speaking so excitedly and so fast about winning first prize in the Mark Six.

WHy is "first prize" without the definite article "the"?

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/167397/first-prize-without-the#