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非英文母語者常見寫作錯誤之四：冠詞省略與誤用
【學術專欄】
身為專業譯者與編輯，多年來為許多英語非母語人士修改與潤飾文章，發覺華人從事英文寫作時常犯的錯誤，在於落入中文的語法陷阱中、或是無意識受到中文影響而使用不該用的措辭，造成詞不達意而無法精確地用英文的句構邏輯連結起來，但也可能僅是對於英文句法結構的不熟悉所致。此次推出的新專欄希望能帶領讀者發現常見的英文寫作陷阱，並避免將這些謬誤帶入文章當中。新專欄並非在教導文法規則，而是提出一些觀點，提點寫作者如何提升英文寫作風格與文字說服力。
As an editor and translator with years of experience in correcting English written by non-native speakers, I have come across certain areas that seem to be major pitfalls for Chinese speakers when writing in English. These mistakes are usually the writer’s Chinese grammar or diction unconsciously coming out in their English exposition, or perhaps simply a unfamiliarity with English composition at its higher levels. This monthly column can teach you to spot these common writing pitfalls and thus avoid having them find their way into your English composition. It will not be a list of grammar rules to follow, but instead a look into how we can improve the style and force of our English writing.
Today we are going to discuss a small, but frequent problem that ESL learners exhibit when writing in English: the omission or misuse of articles.
今天我們要討論一個英語非母語學習者在寫作時常見的小問題：冠詞省略與誤用。
First off, let’s do a quick review on articles. English has two articles:
首先，來做個快速檢視。英文有兩種冠詞：
1) ‘the’—the definite article 第一種是定冠詞「那個(the)」。
2) ‘a/an’—the indefinite article. 第二種是不定冠詞「一個(a/an)」。
There is almost no easier way to make your English sound foreign or “non-native” than to misuse articles in speech or writing. Unfortunately, for many Chinese speakers, articles are not only often omitted, but at times mixed up, or used when they are not required.
當您在說英文或英語寫作時出現冠詞誤用的情形，很容易不小心透露出您是外國人或是英語「非母語」人士。不幸的是，許多華人在使用上不僅經常將冠詞省略，而且有時候混用或使用時機不正確。
So what is the difference between the definite article and indefinite article?
那麼，定冠詞與不定冠詞之間的區別為何？
One simple definition would be: A definite article is used in front of specific nouns, while the indefinite article is used to modify general, non-specific nouns.
一個簡單的定義是：定冠詞用於特定名詞之前，不定冠詞則用於修飾普通、非特定名詞。
So, for example, if I say “I want the book for Christmas” the definite article ‘the’ points to the fact that I want a very specific book.
所以，舉例而言，如果我說「我想要那本聖誕節的書」，其中定冠詞「the」意指我想要「那本」特定的書籍。
But if I say “I want a car for Christmas” the use of the indefinite article means that I am not asking for a specific car, in fact, any car will do.
但如果我說「我想要一台用於聖誕節的車」，此句使用不定冠詞意味著，我沒有要求某輛特定的車，而是任何一輛車都可以。
However, if the person I was talking to referred back to that same car, he would use the definite article since he would be talking about a very specific car (i.e. the car that I want for Christmas) and one that I had mentioned previously.
然而，若跟我對談的這個人提到前句我所說的那台車，他需要使用定冠詞，因為他是指一輛特定的車（亦即前述所指那輛我想要用於聖誕節的車）。
Therefore, we can also understand the use of the definite and indefinite article by looking at the overall context of the sentence(s). For example, the indefinite article is often used to introduce new information, or something that is unfamiliar to the listener/reader:
因此，我們也可以透過理解句子上下文的方式，來決定應使用定冠詞或不定冠詞。例如，不定冠詞常用於介紹新的資訊，或是一些聽眾或讀者不熟悉的事物。
1)I saw a car yesterday. 昨天我看見一輛車。
2)Tomorrow a plumber is going to come over. 明天有一位水管工人會過來一趟。
(In both cases, the speaker or writer is introducing something new to the listener/reader.)
（在這兩種情況下，說話者或是寫作者都在介紹新的事物給聽眾或讀者。）
Using the definite article, however, we are signaling that the listener/reader probably knows what we are referring to; either because it is common knowledge, or because it is something we have mentioned previously:
然而，當使用定冠詞的時候，聽眾或讀者或許知道我們所指涉的事物；因為那是一般常識，或是我們先前提過的事情。
1) I saw a car yesterday. It reminded me of the car that you said you wanted for your birthday.
昨天我看見一輛車。那使我回想起你說過你生日時想要的那輛車。
2) Tomorrow the plumber is going to come over.(Perhaps reminding the speaker of something that both parties were already aware of)
明天那位水管工人會過來一趟。（或許說話者與被提醒者都已經知道這件事。）
There are also dozens of rules regarding where you can or can not use the definite article. Confused yet? Don’t worry, articles and their use are confusing for even native speakers, but with a little practice you can get the general rules down.
關於定冠詞使用時機的規則有許多條。您困惑了嗎？別擔心，就連英語母語人士也未必全部都用得正確，但是您可以經由一些練習掌握基本原則。
Let’s now take a look at some sentences written by non-native English speakers and see where they went wrong.
現在讓我們看看以下由英語非母語人士寫成的句子，並找出定冠詞使用錯誤的地方。
Problem: Missing ‘the’
狀況：少了「那個(the)」
1)Back then, a volunteer of (the) local chapter started recruiting members at a local supermarket.
當時，（那個）地方分會的志工開始在當地的超級市場招募成員。
2)Volunteers from Tokyo mobilized to visit (the) rescue centers and hospitals where (the) victims were sent.
東京的志工動員起來前往（那些）救援中心和醫院，去探望（那些）受害者。
3) The movement has also united people from different faiths to work together on behalf of (the) survivors.
這場運動也結合了不同信仰的人，為（那些）倖存者團結起來，齊心協力一起工作。
Problem: ‘a’ mistakenly used in place of ‘the’
狀況：在應該使用「那個(the)」的地方卻用了「一個(a)」
1)Despite the makeshift operation room, the doctors conducted a (the) surgery with full confidence. (The definite article here is correct as the sentence is referring to one particular surgery.)
儘管是臨時替代用的手術室，醫生對於一場（那場）手術仍深具信心。（在這裡使用定冠詞「那個(the)」才是正確的，因為是指一場特定的手術。）
Problem: ‘the’ mistakenly used in place of ‘a’
狀況：在應該使用「一個(a)」的地方卻用了「那個(the)」
1) The sign was posted above the camp. Volunteers said the sign was important for keeping peace in the camp. (Here “the sign” should be “a sign” as this is new information for the reader.)
那個標誌被張貼在難民營上。志願兵說該標誌對於難民營維持和平是非常重要的。（在這裡應該要寫「一個標誌」而不是「那個標誌」，因為這對於讀者來說是一則新資訊。）
Problem: ‘the’ used where not needed
狀況：不該使用「那個(the)」
1)Passang Lama is always seen wearing a long ponytail as it is a tradition in the Tibet for men and women to wear their hair long. (No ‘the’ in front of country names…although there are a few exceptions to this rule)
Passang喇嘛總是綁著長馬尾，因為那是那個西藏男女的傳統風俗。（即使會有少數的例外情形，但通常不應在國名前面加上定冠詞「那個(the)」）
2)Volunteers of the Taipei’s Nangang District called on members of the community to join the event. (No ‘the’ in front of city/street/names)
那個台北南港區的志工呼籲社會各界加入此次的活動。（在城市、街道、名稱前面不應加上定冠詞「那個(the)」）
As an editor and translator with years of experience in correcting English written by non-native speakers, I have come across certain areas that seem to be major pitfalls for Chinese speakers when writing in English. These mistakes are usually the writer’s Chinese grammar or diction unconsciously coming out in their English exposition, or perhaps simply a unfamiliarity with English composition at its higher levels. This monthly column can teach you to spot these common writing pitfalls and thus avoid having them find their way into your English composition. It will not be a list of grammar rules to follow, but instead a look into how we can improve the style and force of our English writing.
Today we are going to discuss a small, but frequent problem that ESL learners exhibit when writing in English: the omission or misuse of articles.
今天我們要討論一個英語非母語學習者在寫作時常見的小問題：冠詞省略與誤用。
First off, let’s do a quick review on articles. English has two articles:
首先，來做個快速檢視。英文有兩種冠詞：
1) ‘the’—the definite article 第一種是定冠詞「那個(the)」。
2) ‘a/an’—the indefinite article. 第二種是不定冠詞「一個(a/an)」。
There is almost no easier way to make your English sound foreign or “non-native” than to misuse articles in speech or writing. Unfortunately, for many Chinese speakers, articles are not only often omitted, but at times mixed up, or used when they are not required.
當您在說英文或英語寫作時出現冠詞誤用的情形，很容易不小心透露出您是外國人或是英語「非母語」人士。不幸的是，許多華人在使用上不僅經常將冠詞省略，而且有時候混用或使用時機不正確。
So what is the difference between the definite article and indefinite article?
那麼，定冠詞與不定冠詞之間的區別為何？
One simple definition would be: A definite article is used in front of specific nouns, while the indefinite article is used to modify general, non-specific nouns.
一個簡單的定義是：定冠詞用於特定名詞之前，不定冠詞則用於修飾普通、非特定名詞。
So, for example, if I say “I want the book for Christmas” the definite article ‘the’ points to the fact that I want a very specific book.
所以，舉例而言，如果我說「我想要那本聖誕節的書」，其中定冠詞「the」意指我想要「那本」特定的書籍。
But if I say “I want a car for Christmas” the use of the indefinite article means that I am not asking for a specific car, in fact, any car will do.
但如果我說「我想要一台用於聖誕節的車」，此句使用不定冠詞意味著，我沒有要求某輛特定的車，而是任何一輛車都可以。
However, if the person I was talking to referred back to that same car, he would use the definite article since he would be talking about a very specific car (i.e. the car that I want for Christmas) and one that I had mentioned previously.
然而，若跟我對談的這個人提到前句我所說的那台車，他需要使用定冠詞，因為他是指一輛特定的車（亦即前述所指那輛我想要用於聖誕節的車）。
Therefore, we can also understand the use of the definite and indefinite article by looking at the overall context of the sentence(s). For example, the indefinite article is often used to introduce new information, or something that is unfamiliar to the listener/reader:
因此，我們也可以透過理解句子上下文的方式，來決定應使用定冠詞或不定冠詞。例如，不定冠詞常用於介紹新的資訊，或是一些聽眾或讀者不熟悉的事物。
1)I saw a car yesterday. 昨天我看見一輛車。
2)Tomorrow a plumber is going to come over. 明天有一位水管工人會過來一趟。
(In both cases, the speaker or writer is introducing something new to the listener/reader.)
（在這兩種情況下，說話者或是寫作者都在介紹新的事物給聽眾或讀者。）
Using the definite article, however, we are signaling that the listener/reader probably knows what we are referring to; either because it is common knowledge, or because it is something we have mentioned previously:
然而，當使用定冠詞的時候，聽眾或讀者或許知道我們所指涉的事物；因為那是一般常識，或是我們先前提過的事情。
1) I saw a car yesterday. It reminded me of the car that you said you wanted for your birthday.
昨天我看見一輛車。那使我回想起你說過你生日時想要的那輛車。
2) Tomorrow the plumber is going to come over.(Perhaps reminding the speaker of something that both parties were already aware of)
明天那位水管工人會過來一趟。（或許說話者與被提醒者都已經知道這件事。）
There are also dozens of rules regarding where you can or can not use the definite article. Confused yet? Don’t worry, articles and their use are confusing for even native speakers, but with a little practice you can get the general rules down.
關於定冠詞使用時機的規則有許多條。您困惑了嗎？別擔心，就連英語母語人士也未必全部都用得正確，但是您可以經由一些練習掌握基本原則。
Let’s now take a look at some sentences written by non-native English speakers and see where they went wrong.
現在讓我們看看以下由英語非母語人士寫成的句子，並找出定冠詞使用錯誤的地方。
Problem: Missing ‘the’
狀況：少了「那個(the)」
1)Back then, a volunteer of (the) local chapter started recruiting members at a local supermarket.
當時，（那個）地方分會的志工開始在當地的超級市場招募成員。
2)Volunteers from Tokyo mobilized to visit (the) rescue centers and hospitals where (the) victims were sent.
東京的志工動員起來前往（那些）救援中心和醫院，去探望（那些）受害者。
3) The movement has also united people from different faiths to work together on behalf of (the) survivors.
這場運動也結合了不同信仰的人，為（那些）倖存者團結起來，齊心協力一起工作。
Problem: ‘a’ mistakenly used in place of ‘the’
狀況：在應該使用「那個(the)」的地方卻用了「一個(a)」
1)Despite the makeshift operation room, the doctors conducted a (the) surgery with full confidence. (The definite article here is correct as the sentence is referring to one particular surgery.)
儘管是臨時替代用的手術室，醫生對於一場（那場）手術仍深具信心。（在這裡使用定冠詞「那個(the)」才是正確的，因為是指一場特定的手術。）
Problem: ‘the’ mistakenly used in place of ‘a’
狀況：在應該使用「一個(a)」的地方卻用了「那個(the)」
1) The sign was posted above the camp. Volunteers said the sign was important for keeping peace in the camp. (Here “the sign” should be “a sign” as this is new information for the reader.)
那個標誌被張貼在難民營上。志願兵說該標誌對於難民營維持和平是非常重要的。（在這裡應該要寫「一個標誌」而不是「那個標誌」，因為這對於讀者來說是一則新資訊。）
Problem: ‘the’ used where not needed
狀況：不該使用「那個(the)」
1)Passang Lama is always seen wearing a long ponytail as it is a tradition in the Tibet for men and women to wear their hair long. (No ‘the’ in front of country names…although there are a few exceptions to this rule)
Passang喇嘛總是綁著長馬尾，因為那是那個西藏男女的傳統風俗。（即使會有少數的例外情形，但通常不應在國名前面加上定冠詞「那個(the)」）
2)Volunteers of the Taipei’s Nangang District called on members of the community to join the event. (No ‘the’ in front of city/street/names)
那個台北南港區的志工呼籲社會各界加入此次的活動。（在城市、街道、名稱前面不應加上定冠詞「那個(the)」）
