一、当涉及such, what, many时
当such, what, many 修饰单数可数名词时,不定冠词应放在这些词之后,而不是之前。如:
I’ve never seen such a big apple. 我从未看到那样大的苹果。
Many a woman has great influence upon her husband. 许多妇女对其丈夫有很大影响。
This hospital is a pattern of what a good hospital should be. 这家医院就是好医院的榜样。
说明:many a 后接单数可数名词,相当于 many 后接复数名词,但前者为正式用法,且语气较强。
二、当涉及how, however, so, too, as时
当单数可数名词前面的形容词受到副词how, however, so, too, as的修饰时,不定冠词应放在相应形容词之后。如:
She is as clever a cook as her mother. 她跟妈妈一样做饭。
It is too difficult a book for beginners. 那本书供初学者看太难了。
It’s so interesting a film that we all like it. 那部电影很有趣,我们大家都喜欢看。
He didn't know how great a mistake he had made. 他不知道他自己犯了一个好大的错误。
He has too mild a nature to get angry, even if he has good cause. 他的性情太温和了,即使有充分的理由,他也不会动怒。
三、当涉及rather, quite时
若单数可数名词前有rather, quite 修饰,则不定冠词常放在这些词之后。如:
Your daughter is quite a beauty. 你的女儿真是个大美人。
She is quite a help to her mother. 她是她妈妈的得力助手。
It took me quite a while to fill out the questionnaire. 填写那份问卷花了我好长一段时间。
Mr Smith lived here for quite a long time. 史密斯先生在这儿住过很久。
注意:若该结构中的名词还带有形容词修饰语,则不定冠词可放在这些词语之前或之后。如:
He was rather a [a rather] naughty student. 他是一个相当淘气的学生。
另外,若不定冠词与其他词语构成习语或固定搭配时,rather和quite只能位于不定冠词之前。如:
Quite a few people are interested in seeing movies. 不少人对看电影感兴趣。
四、不定冠词与 half的位置关系
在通常情况下,不定冠词位于half之后,如说 half an hour,half an apple 等。如:
I’ll be ready in half a minute. 我马上就准备好。
The river is half a mile across. 这条河有半英里宽。
The baby had a gain of half a pound. 婴儿的体重增加了半磅。
不过在美国英语中也可将不定冠词置于half 之前,如说 a half hour, a half apple 等。值得注意的是,在以下情况中,必须说 a half,不能说 half a:
1. 当构成复合词时:
It’s a half-hour test. 那是一次半小时的测试。
We need a half-dozen. 我们需要半打(即六个)。
2. 当half 不表示“一半”时:
a half brother 同父异母或同母异父的兄弟
这个知识点比较重要。
3. 当表示“几个半”时:
We stayed there for two and a half weeks [two weeks and a half]. 我们在那儿呆了两周半。
The journey from London to Oxford takes about an hour and a half. 从伦敦到牛津大约需要一个半小时。
五、定冠词与both, all, half, twice的位置关系
当这些词与定冠词连用时,定冠词通常放在这些词语之后。如:
Not both the boys were ill. 并不是两个孩子都病了。
Yours is twice the size of mine. 你的是我的两倍大。
Half the workers are women. 一半工人是妇女。
There isn’t enough room for all the furniture. 没有足够的地方放置全部家具。
精彩评论