一 基本規律 (Basic rules)
1. Indefinite article (不定冠詞)
我們用 "a , an "當我們不知道他是諸多人或事中的哪一個：
* is one of many. ( 是許多箇中的一個)
He is an artist.(=there are many artists)
* is not unique. (不是唯一的)
I have just bought a book
* has not been mentioned before. (之前沒有提到過)
There was a new student in class today.
2. Definite article (定冠詞)
我們用 "the "當我們知道他是諸多人或事中的哪一個：
* is unique (or unique in that context) (是唯一的)
The Australian Prime Minister. (=there is only one)
I looked inside, the engine was in a terrible state. (=there is only one engine, in this case)
* has been mentioned before. (之前提到過)
The man gave me a ticket. I looked at it, and saw that the ticket was a single.
* is defined by the phrase which follows it. (要被接下來的短語詳細說明)
What is the new student's name?
3. No articles (無冠詞)
我們不用冠詞當我們普遍地提及事物的時候：
* using plural or uncountable nouns (在使用複數或不可數名詞時)
Do you like sport?
* with the names of people or places, but there are many exceptions (人名和地名的時候不用冠詞，但是地名有許多例外，下文一一介紹)
He is Professor Jones
4. Fixed phrases ( 固定短語)
有許多固定搭配需要用或者不用冠詞，我們應該來單獨學習，他們包括：
a few at home at work at the beginning atthe end go to bed
go to the cinemas, shops, station in the world once a week
sixty kilometres an hour the next the other the other day
the same
二 經常發生問題的區域 (Areas that often cause problems)
1. Jobs (工作)
如果有許多人做這個工作我們用 a 或 an.：
My husband is an architect. (=there are many architects)
但是如果一個工作特別對應一個人，我們就要用“the”了：
He is having talks with the French foreign minister(外交部長). (=there is only one)
2. Superlative (最高級)
我們使用“the”在形容詞最高級前面：
She is the best person for the job.
3. Last and next
有一些形容詞如 “last” 和 “next ”同時可以用也可以不用定冠詞“the”但是句意會發生變化
I saw James last night. (=the one before this one)
It is the last night of our holiday. (=the fanal one)
I will see you next week.(=the one after this one)
4. Institutions: school, prison, university, church, home, hospital
和以上機構連用時我們不用定冠詞“the”
My sister had to stay in hospital overnight.
然而，如果我們指的是這個建築，我們就要用“the”
Our flat is opposite the hospital.
三 在表示時間和地點的短語中用或不用定冠詞 (phrases of time and place)
1. Phrases of time
有些時間短語必須用“the”
Dates: the 25th of December / December the 25th
Parts of the day: in the afternoon, in the evening, in the morning ( but at night, at lunchtime)
Decades or Centuries: the 1980s, the 21st century
另外一些時間短語不用“the”
Years or Seasons: in 2002, in summer
Months or Days: in August, on Friday, see you tomorrow
2 Place names
國家，大洲，島嶼，洲，省，城市前不加“the”(countries, continents, islands, states, provinces, town, cities)
in Asia, to Sydney from Texas in Turkey in Britain in America
例外情況
the Netherlands, the UK, the USA, the Arab World (可以發現國家名作爲縮寫的話要加“the”)
如果我們指的是一個地區(region)那麼我們不需要用“the”
North-west Inida, Northern Europe
但是如果我們指的是對於一個地區的方位或方向就要加上“the”
in the east of the country, in the south of Italy, on the coast
大多數路，街，公園，橋樑，商店，酒店不用加“the”(raods, streets, parks, bridges, shops, restaurants)
Central Park, Oxford Street, Tower Bridge
但是有命名的劇院，電影院，旅館，畫廊，博物館加“the”(names of theatres, cinemas, hotels, galleries, museums)
the Hermitage, the National Theatre, the Odeon, the Ritz
特別的山和湖不加“the”
Lake Victoria, Mount Everest
山脈，河流，海洋，運河要加“the”
the Atlantic, the Yangtze River, the Himalayas, the Panama Canal
without的正確用法
一、基本用法
1. (表否定)沒有，無，不需。如：
The letter was posted without a stamp. 那封信沒貼郵票就寄出去了。
We got there without any trouble. 我們到了那兒，一路上沒遇到任何麻煩。
You'll get wet if you go out in the rain without an umbrella. 雨天外出不帶傘會淋溼的。
I suddenly realized I'd come out without any money. 我突然意識到，一點兒錢也沒帶就出來了。
2. (用在no, not, never等否定副詞之後，強調肯定)沒有……不，沒有……則不能……，每……必定……。如：
You can't get rich without taking risks. 人不冒險不富。
The old man cannot walk without a stick. 那位老先生離開手杖就走不了路。
Don't go out without a coat: you'll catch your death. 別不穿外套出去，會得重感冒的。
I never see this picture without thinking of him. 每次看到這張照片，我都會想起他。
3. (與-ing形式連用)不，無，沒。如：
She entered the room without knocking. 她沒敲門就進了房間。
It goes without saying that health is above wealth. 健康勝於財富這個道理是無需多說的。
They had to stand for hours without changing position. 他們得一動不動地站幾個小時。
It wasn't very polite of you to serve yourself without asking. 你也不問一聲就自己吃起來是不太禮貌的。
4. (表條件)若無，若非。如：
I don't like to go to a country without knowing something of the language. 我要是不懂得一點那個國家的語言，就不想到那個國家去。
Without water, we cannot live. 沒有水，我們就活不了。
Can you see without your glasses? 你不戴眼鏡能看得清東西嗎?
二、作表語的用法
without引出的介詞短語通常用作狀語，但有時也可用作表語。如：
She is completely without shame. 她恬不知恥。
My investigations were without result. 我的調查毫無結果。
The houses in this village are without water. 這個村子裏家家戶戶都沒有自來水。
We were without electricity for three hours but it's on again now. 我們的電停了3小時，現在又有了。
三、後接複合賓語的用法
without後接複合賓語的常用結構如下：
1. without+賓語+副詞
I'd be lost without you here. 沒有你在這兒，我會一籌莫展。
I'm very near-sighted without my glasses on. 我要是不戴眼鏡十分近視。
2. without+賓語+介詞短語
We'd be better off without them as neighbors. 要是沒有這些鄰居，我們就過得更愉快了。
I don't like sweet coffee; I like it better without sugar in it. 我不喜歡加糖的咖啡，裏邊不加糖我更喜歡。
3. without+賓語+動名詞
Without anyone noticing, he slipped through the window. 無人注意，他從窗戶溜了出去。
They debated for hours without a decision being taken. 他們爭論了幾個小時，也沒作出決定。
4. without+賓語+不定式
Without anyone to help, how can we go on? 沒有人幫忙，我們怎麼能進行下去?
It was boring to sit there without anything to do. 無所事事地坐在那裏太無聊了。
5. without+賓語+過去分詞
Without another word exchanged, they started off. 沒有再交談一句，他們就出發了。