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(1) a用在子音前; an用在母音前。 An hour (2) 表同种类的全体, 此时a带有any的意味。 A dog is a faithful animal. (=Dogs are faithful animals.) (3) 等于one。 I have a sister and two brothers. (4) 等于the same. Birds of a feather flock together. (5) 等于per每一......。 We work eight hours a day. Ninety miles an hour. (6) a = a certain, 表说话者不认识此人。 Do you know a Mr. Smith? (7) 物质名词或抽象名词加a (an)即成普通名词， Asparagus is a grass. (a = a kind of). This is a good cloth for summer. (8) have (or take) a 抽象名词，与抽象名词的动词形同义。 Let us take am. = Let usm. 2. 定冠词的用法 (1) 由于上下文的关系, 某名词所指的东西已非常明显, 或已有一定的范围, 该名词应加the。 Shut the door. Please pass me the caster. (2) 表该名词的总称。 The cow is a useful animal. (= Cows are useful animals.) (3) 前面已提过的名词，再度提到时前面加the。 Once upon a time there was a little boy who lived in a cottage. | 
