每日一字 : a / an /the

好耐冇出 post,積埋好多嘢寫,揀樣最緊要嘅講先。
我幫好多成人同學修改 email,其中一個漏得最多嘅詞類就係冠詞(articles),即係 a/an/the,特別係我哋喺腦裏面中文直譯英文時好容易會漏咗。等我首先同大家講吓個 general rule 先。但要忍一忍,因為好多術語。🙇🏻♀️
當你喺文中要用一個單數嘅數得名詞(countable noun),佢前面就一定要有限定詞(determiner)。而最普遍嘅限定詞就係 a/an/the.
留意講緊嘅係單數嘅數得名詞。
數得名詞大家都記得係咩係咪?一般嚟講,所有你見過有 s 嘅名詞就係數得名詞,譬如芒果(mango/mangoes)、蛋糕(cake/cakes)、合約(contract/contracts)、人客(client/clients)。
單數,即係雖然佢係數得名詞,但你用緊佢無 s 嘅版本。譬如 mango, cake, contract, client.
Level 1 例句
我鍾意食芒果
唔可以直譯做
I like to eat mango.
因為 mango 係數得名詞,而你用緊佢無 s 嘅版本,咁即係有嘢唔對路。
正確嘅寫法係:
I like to eat mangoes.
Level 2 例句
我哋一齊整蛋糕
唔可以直譯做
Let’s make cake.
留意 cake 又係數得名詞,所以唔可以就咁用佢嘅單數。
如果你哋只會做一個蛋糕,正確寫法係:
Let make a cake.
而如果你哋會做多個一個蛋糕,正確寫法係:
Let’s make cakes.
Level 3 例句
我話俾巴士叔叔聽!
唔可以直譯做
I’ll tell bus driver!
因為 driver 又係數得名詞,而你又用緊佢無 s 嘅版本,咁即係又有嘢唔對路。
正確寫法係
I’ll tell the bus driver!
因為你指明緊巴士上唯一嘅司機!
Level 4 例句
佢嚟同我地簽約
唔可以直譯做
He is here to sign contract with us.
都係嗰句——contract 係數得名詞,你唔可以就咁用佢幾嘅單數。
正確寫法係:
He is here to sign a contract with us.(佢嚟同我地簽某一份合約)
He is here to sign the contract with us. (佢嚟同我地簽嗰份合約)
邊個啱你嘅情況用就用邊個。
Level 5 例句 A
如果客人嚟問我地…
唔可以直譯做
If client asks us…
同樣道理——因為 client 係數得名詞,而你用緊佢無 s 嘅版本,咁即係又有嘢要執一執。
因為你無指明緊係邊個客人,所以正確寫法係:
If a client asks us…
Level 5 例句 B
如果嗰個客人嚟問我地…
不如今次試吓你幫我譯,睇吓你明唔明呢堂每日一字想教你嘅規則?😊
P.S. 不日再同大家講講其他嘅限定詞吖!