物質名詞前冠詞的用法
1.物質名詞(water, air等)在用於一般意義時不加冠詞:
Water boils at 100 centi degree.
水在攝氏100度沸騰。
We can't live without air.
沒有空氣我們就不能生活。
They make high—quality steel.
他們制造優質鋼。
Snow covered the ground.
地上被白雪覆蓋。
2.指該物質特定部分時可加定冠詞:
The air(in the room)is bad.
(屋裡)空氣不好。
The water isn't very clean.
這水不太乾淨。
Don't stand in the rain.
別站在雨裡。
Wipe off the dust.
把灰塵擦掉。
3.有時物質名詞前還可加不定冠詞,表示:
1)“一種”:
Marble is a precious stone.
大理石是一種珍貴的石料。
It was a special tea which tasted of chrysanthemum.
這足一種菊花茶。
2)“一場雨雪”:
What a heavy rain.
多大的雨呀。
It was bitterly cold.and a heavy snow was falling.
天氣嚴寒,下著一場大雪。
3)“一份”:
A chocolate ice-cream for me!
給我一棄巧尅力冰淇淋。
An iced coffee for me.
給我一盃冰咖啡。
有時一個物質名詞可表示可數的東西:
I need two yards of cloth.
我需要兩碼佈。(不可數)
He wiped the books with a cloth.
他用一塊佈擦書。(可數)