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。
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