BBC Learning English – Q & A of the Week 131
About this script
Please note that this is not a word for word transcript of the programme as broadcast. In the
recording and editing process changes may have been made which may not be reflected here.
关于台词的备注：
请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。
A and An 不定冠词的使用方法
Feifei: 大家好，欢迎再次收听《你问我答》节目。我是冯菲菲。
Rob: And I'm Rob. Let's start by reading a letter from Sang in Hong Kong.
INSERT
Hello. In this sentence, "he is an expert in business administration having got his MBA in a UK
university" please can you tell me why it use "a" and not use "an". Thank you very much. Yours
sincerely Sang, Hong Kong.
Feifei: 来自香港的 Sang 想请我们讲讲不定冠词 a 和 an 的使用方法。They are very small words.
Rob: They are very small but they need to be used correctly if you want your English to
sound perfect! There are certain rules about using 'a' and 'an'.
Feifei: 不定冠词的使用方法有很多规则。So come on Rob, tell us the rules.
Rob: Well let me introduce you to 'a'…
A: Hello, I'm a. I go before words that are countable nouns; these are the names of
separate objects. Like a cat, a tree or a man.
Feifei: Thanks 'a'. 在可数名词前我们使用不定冠词 a. 比如说在可数名词 cat 猫前面，我们就用 a, a cat.
So can we meet 'an' now?
AN: Hi, I'm 'an'. I go before words that start with a vowel, that's a, e, i, o and u.
Feifei: Hi 'an'. 在元音前我们使用不定冠词 an. 由原因字母 a, e, i, o and u 开头的很多单词的第一个音
节常是元音。But hold on, stop the music!
FX STYLUS JERK
Rob: Erm, is there a problem?
Feifei: Yes. In Sang's question she mentioned a sentence that said a man got his MBA in a
UK university. That uses 'a' in front of a word that uses a vowel - UK. Rob: That's true. I did say there were rules, but rules are there to be broken!
Feifei: OK. 不定冠词 a and an 的使用规则也有例外。So please explain Rob.
Rob: I'll let 'a' explain.
A: Using me depends on how you pronounce the noun, not how you spell it.
Feifei: I see. 什么时候使用哪个定冠词取决于后面名词第一个音节的发音，而不是看它的拼写。
Rob: He's right. We use 'a' before a consonant sound even if it is written as a vowel. A
consonant is a letter that isn't a vowel.
Feifei: 也就是说如果一个以元音字母开头的单词，第一个音节的发音是辅音，那么我们就应该在这个单词
前用不定冠词 a. So the words 'UK' and 'university' begin with 'u' – a vowel – but it
sounds like 'you' so we preceed it with 'a'.
Rob: What about the word 'umbrella'?
Feifei: 雨伞 umbrella. It starts with a vowel, 'u' and it sounds like u. That needs the word 'an'
before it.
Rob: That's it. Let's hear from 'an' and see when she breaks the rules.
AN: Some people use me when the word begins with a consonant but we stress the second
letter which is a vowel. Like 'an hotel' or 'an historic site'.
Rob: Ah, but not always. It's still correct to say 'a hotel' or 'a historic site'.
Feifei: OK Rob, if we stick to the rules again, can you remind us of the situation where we
should use 'a' and 'an'.
Rob: Sure. We use 'a' and 'an' when we are describing one thing. Like this…
Insert
I've been here so long, I need a new job.
Dad's got an old car, it keeps breaking down.
Feifei: 这里用了不定冠词 a and an 来特指某物。
Rob: We can also use them to classify or define something.
Insert
Football is a game of two halves!
When I grow up I'm going to be an astronaught.
Feifei: 'A' and 'an' 可以用来划分或界定某物。
Rob: But don't use 'a' or 'an' without a noun.
A & AN: Ohhh!!!
Rob: Sorry guys, you can say "it's a sunny day" but if you don't say the word "day", then
you just say "it's sunny", so no 'a'.
Feifei: 请记住，不要在没有名词情况下使用冠词。Anything else?
Rob: 'A' and 'an' are very good if you want to emphasise the following word. Like this:
Insert
I think I'll have a packet of crisps.
It's an opinion that not everyone will agree with.
Feifei: 上面的举例是用冠词来加强语气。
Rob: Good, but don't forget to see if the noun begins with a vowel or a consonant. Well, I
think we've given Sang an answer to her question. Our job is done! Do you fancy a
cup of coffee now?
Feifei: A cup of coffee - you mean just one?! I would expect a few.
Rob: I think you’re an addict!
Feifei: I am! 欢迎大家发邮件给我们来提出你在英语学习中遇到的问题。邮箱地址是
[email protected]
Rob: Go on, send us a question.
Both: Bye bye.
A: And bye from me…
AN: …and me. |