1. used before a singular count noun when you mention one person or thing for the f
一個
首次提到的單數名詞
used before a singular count noun when you mention one person or thing for the first time, or when the exact one does not matter
Asher found a wallet under the bus seat this morning.
Asher 今天早上在公車座位下找到一個皮夾。
a + singular noun for first mention
Zuri is looking for a cafe with good soup near campus.
Zuri 正在找一家校園附近湯很好喝的咖啡館。
We need a ladder before we can paint the kitchen ceiling.
我們得先找一把梯子，才能粉刷廚房天花板。
Putri heard a strange noise behind the garden wall.
Putri 聽見花園牆後傳來一個奇怪的聲音。
文法句型
a + singular count noun
用法筆記
Before a vowel sound, English normally uses an instead. This sense introduces a new singular countable noun rather than one already known to the listener.
常見錯誤
2. used before a singular noun to show what kind of person or thing someone is, inc
一種
表身分類別或職業
used before a singular noun to show what kind of person or thing someone is, including a job, role, nationality, or class
Elena is a dentist who works nights at the children's hospital.
Elena 是一名在兒童醫院值夜班的牙醫。
a + job noun after be
That insect is a beetle, not a baby cockroach.
那種昆蟲是一種甲蟲，不是小蟑螂。
Christopher became a Canadian citizen after living in Toronto for years.
Christopher 在多倫多住了多年後，成了加拿大公民。
Diya wants to be a pilot when she finishes school.
Diya 希望畢業後能當一名飛行員。
文法句型
be + a + job noun
be + a + type noun
用法筆記
This sense labels identity or membership. It is common after be, become, and similar verbs when the noun names a person's role or a thing's class.
常見錯誤
3. used with a singular noun to mean any member of a group, so the statement applie
任何
泛指同類中的任一個
used with a singular noun to mean any member of a group, so the statement applies to every example of that kind
A seat near the door is useful on a crowded train.
在擁擠的火車上，任何一張靠門的座位都很好用。
a + singular noun for a general truth
A good map can save hikers hours in thick fog.
任何一張好地圖都能在濃霧中替健行者省下好幾小時。
A child needs sleep to learn well at school.
任何一個孩子都需要睡眠，才能在學校學得好。
A cracked pipe can flood a whole kitchen in minutes.
任何一根破裂的水管都可能在幾分鐘內淹掉整個廚房。
文法句型
A + singular noun + general truth
用法筆記
Often used in rules, advice, and general truths. The sentence talks about one example as a representative of the whole class.
4. used before some uncountable nouns when you mean one particular kind, feeling, o
某種
特定的一種感受或性質
used before some uncountable nouns when you mean one particular kind, feeling, or example of it rather than the idea in general
A deep silence filled the room after the judge read the decision.
法官宣讀判決後，房間裡瀰漫著某種深沉的寂靜。
a + adjective + uncountable noun
Sivan answered with a calm that settled the whole room.
Sivan 回答時帶著某種沉著，讓整個房間都安定下來。
We felt a sadness that stayed with us all evening.
我們感到某種悲傷，整個晚上都揮之不去。
The village has a peace you never feel beside the highway.
那個村子有某種平靜，是公路旁永遠感受不到的。
文法句型
a + adjective + uncountable noun
a + uncountable noun + clause
用法筆記
Usually the noun is limited by an adjective or a following clause. Without that narrowing, the bare uncountable noun often appears with no article instead.
5. used before certain action nouns to talk about one instance of doing something
一下
表示做一次某動作
used before certain action nouns to talk about one instance of doing something
Aoi took a quick look at the map before turning left.
Aoi 左轉前先快速看了一下地圖。
take a look for one brief action
Vinicius gave the door a hard push with his shoulder.
Vinicius 用肩膀朝門用力推了一下。
Please send me a reply before Friday afternoon.
請在星期五下午前回一下信。
The baby let out a loud cry when the bath water cooled.
洗澡水變涼時，嬰兒大聲哭了一下。
文法句型
take a look
give a push
let out a cry
用法筆記
Common in light-verb patterns such as take a look or give a push. The noun refers to one event, not a physical object.
常見錯誤
6. used before a noun for one serving, container, sheet, piece, or similar unit of
一份
表一個單位或一份量
used before a noun for one serving, container, sheet, piece, or similar unit of something, especially food, drink, or everyday items
Pim ordered a coffee and a cheese roll before class.
Pim 上課前點了一杯咖啡和一個起司麵包捲。
a + food or drink order
Please hand me a sheet of paper from the blue tray.
請從藍色托盤裡拿一張紙給我。
The nurse gave Asher a bottle of water after the race.
比賽後，護士拿了一瓶水給 Asher。
We bought a loaf of bread at the market near home.
我們在家附近的市場買了一條麵包。
文法句型
a + unit noun + of + noun
用法筆記
The noun after a names the unit or serving, not the material itself. Compare a loaf of bread with bare bread when speaking about the food in general.
7. used before the first of two singular nouns when the two things are normally und
一套
把兩樣視為一組
used before the first of two singular nouns when the two things are normally understood as one set or one combined object
The waiter laid a knife and fork beside each plate.
服務生在每個盤子旁放上一套餐刀和叉子。
article before the first noun in a fixed pair
Zuri packed a shirt and tie for the evening reception.
Zuri 為晚上的招待會收進一件襯衫和一條領帶。
Please bring a cup and saucer to the front desk.
請拿一組杯子和茶托到前台。
Christopher grabbed a bucket and mop before the store opened.
Christopher 在商店開門前抓起一只水桶和一把拖把。
文法句型
a + noun + and + noun
用法筆記
The article appears only before the first noun because the two nouns are treated as one practical set, such as a knife and fork or a cup and saucer.
8. used before some number words to mean one, and used after fractions to connect t
一
表數量一或分數連接
used before some number words to mean one, and used after fractions to connect the fraction with its unit of measurement
The hall can hold a hundred parents during the school concert.
學校音樂會期間，那個大廳能容納一百位家長。
a before a number word meaning one
We walked one and a half miles before the rain started.
下雨前，我們走了一英里半。
The recipe needs a quarter cup of warm milk.
這份食譜需要四分之一杯溫牛奶。
A thousand paper cranes hung above the hospital entrance.
醫院入口上方掛著一千隻紙鶴。
文法句型
a hundred
a thousand
one and a half + noun
a quarter + unit
用法筆記
After fractions, a links the number and the unit, as in half a mile or a quarter cup. In older or fixed patterns, it can also mean simply one before a number word.
9. used with time, money, distance, and similar measures to mean for each unit in a
每
表每一單位的比率
used with time, money, distance, and similar measures to mean for each unit in a rate, frequency, wage, or price expression
The buses now come six times a day during the summer.
夏天時，公車現在每天來六班。
a meaning for each time period
Fresh cherries were selling for twelve dollars a kilo at noon.
中午時，新鮮櫻桃賣到每公斤十二美元。
Elena earns nine hundred dollars a week at the clinic.
Elena 在診所每週賺九百美元。
The fountain fills the tank at twenty liters a minute.
那座噴泉每分鐘能把水箱注滿二十公升。
文法句型
times a day
dollars a week
miles a minute
dollars a kilo
用法筆記
This sense turns the following noun into a measure for each unit. It is common with time, speed, wages, and prices.
常見錯誤
10. used before a personal name, family name, or named day or month to mean one exam
某個
某位人名或某次日期
used before a personal name, family name, or named day or month to mean one example of it, often one not already identified
A Mr Lin called while you were out at lunch.
某位林先生在你午餐外出時打過電話。
a before a name for an unidentified person
She married a Gupta from Jaipur and moved there soon after.
她嫁給了來自 Jaipur 的某個 Gupta 家族成員，之後就搬到那裡。
We visited on a Sunday in April when the streets were empty.
我們是在四月的某個星期天去拜訪的，當時街上很空。
The meeting happened on a Monday, so half the staff were away.
會議是在某個星期一舉行的，所以一半的員工都不在。
文法句型
a + title + surname
a + family name
a + day or month
用法筆記
With names, it often means someone the speaker does not know personally. With days or months, it points to one instance rather than the day or month in general.