=> A

/ə; ə; strong form 强读式 eɪ; e/
(also an / En; En; strong form 强读式 An; An/) indef art (The form a is used before consonant sounds and the form an before vowel sounds. Both are used before [C], [Cgp] or [sing] ns that have not previously been made specific. a用于辅音前, an用于元音前. 两者均用于前文未曾确指的可数单数名词或集合名词之前.)
1 one 一（个）
*a man, hotel, girl, committee, unit, U-turn （一个）男人, 旅馆, 姑娘, 委员会, 单位, U形转弯 (Cf 参看 some men, hotels, girls, etc)
* an egg, aunt, uncle, hour, X-ray, MP, L-plate （一个）蛋, 姑姑, 叔叔, 小时, X光照片, 下院议员, L字牌 (Cf 参看 some eggs, aunts, uncles, hours, etc)
* I can only carry two at a time. 我一次只能携带两个.
* There's a book on the table is that the one you want? 桌子上有一本书--是不是你要的那一本?
2 (used with an abstract n that is restricted by the phrase which follows it 与抽象名词连用时, 该名词後须有限定性词组)
*There was still an abundance of food when we arrived. 我们抵达时还有很多食物.
* We're looking for someone with a good knowledge of German. 我们正在找一个精通德语的人.
3 any; every 任何; 每一（个）
*A horse is a quadruped. 马是四足动物. (Cf 参看 Horses are quadrupeds.)
* An owl can see in the dark. 猫头鹰在黑暗中能看见东西. (Cf 参看 Owls can see...).
4 one single 单一的
*He didn't tell us a thing about his holiday. 他度假的事对我们支字未提.
5 (used with ns followed byof + possess det + n + 's 与名词+ of +所有格限定词+名词+ 's连用)
*a friend of my father's, ie one of my father's friends 我父亲的一个朋友
* a habit of Sally's, ie one of Sally's habits 萨莉的一种习惯.
6 (used in front of two ns seen as a unit 用于可视为一体的两个名词之前)
*a cup and saucer 一副杯碟
* a knife and fork 一副刀叉.
7 to or for each; per 每一; 每:
2 a gallon 每加仑2英镑 *
800 words a day 每天800字
* 50p a pound 每磅50便士.
8 (often derog 常作贬义) person like (sb) 像（某人）的人
*My boss is a little Napoleon. 我的老板是个小拿破仑.
9 (used with sb's name to show that the speaker does not know the person 与某人姓名连用, 表示说话者不认识此人)
*Do we know a Tim Smith? 咱们认识一个叫蒂姆·史密斯的人吗?
* A Mrs Green is waiting to see you. 有一位格林太太正等着见你.* A Doctor Simpson telephoned. 有一位辛普森医生来过电话.
10 (used to show membership of a class 用以表示一群体中的成员)
*My mother is a solicitor. 我母亲是律师.
* My father is a Fulham supporter. 我父亲是富勒姆足球队的球迷.
11 painting, sculpture, etc by 由...作的绘画, 雕刻等
*The painting my grandfather gave me turned out to be a Constable. 我祖父给我的那幅画原来是康斯塔伯的作品.

NOTE ON USAGE 用法
*Note that the sound of the first letter of an abbreviation, not its spelling, determines the form and pronunciation of the article before it 注意用于缩写字前面的冠词, 其词形和读音取决于该缩写字的第一个字母的读音, 而不取决于其书写形式
*an MP
* an SRN
* a UHF radio
* the / TI; TI/ NSPCC
* the / TE; TE/ USA.

indefinite article, determiner alsoan
used to show that you are talking about someone or something that has not been mentioned before, or that your listener does not know about
　We have a problem.
　There was a hole in the fence.
　Suddenly they heard a loud bang.
→the¹
used to show that you are referring to a general type of person or thing and not a specific person or thing
　Would you like a sandwich?
　I want to train to be an engineer.
　He's a really nice man.
　Take a look at this.
　It needs a good clean.
used before someone's family name to show that they belong to that family
　One of his daughters had married a Rothschild.
one
　a thousand pounds
　a dozen eggs
　You'll have to wait an hour or two.
used in some phrases that say how much of something there is
　There were a lot of people at the party.
　A few weeks from now I'll be in Venice.
　You have caused a great deal of trouble.
used to mean 'each' when stating prices, rates, or speeds
　I get paid once a month.
　The eggs cost $2 a dozen.
used before singular nouns to mean all things of a particular type
　A square has four sides (=all squares have four sides) .
　A child needs love and affection.
used once before two nouns that are mentioned together very often
　I'll fetch you a cup and saucer.
　Does everyone have a knife and fork?
used before the -ing forms of verbs when they are used as nouns referring to an action, event, or sound
　There was a beating of wings overhead.
　Bernice became aware of a humming that seemed to come from all around her.
used before nouns that are usually uncountable when other information about the quality, feeling etc is added by an adjective, phrase, or clause
　Candidates must have a good knowledge of chemistry.
used before the name of a substance, food etc to refer to a particular type of it
　Use a good cheese to make the sauce.
　plants that grow well in a rich moist soil
used before the name of a drink to refer to a cup or glass of that drink
　Can I get you a coffee?
　Renwick went to the bar and ordered a beer.
used before the name of a famous artist to refer to a painting by that artist
　an early Rembrandt
used before a name to mean someone or something that has the same qualities as that person or thing
　She was hailed as a new Marilyn Monroe.
used before someone's name when you do not know who they are
　There is a Mr Tom Wilkins on the phone.
used before the names of days, months, seasons, and events in the year to refer to a particular one
　We arrived in England on a cold wet Sunday in 1963.
　I can't remember a Christmas like it.

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WORD CHOICE: a, an
Before a word beginning with a vowel sound, use an : an elephant | an umbrella | an obvious mistake
!! Use an before an 'h' that is not pronounced : an hour later |an honest explanation
!! Use a before a 'u' that is pronounced like 'you' : a university | a unique opportunity
!! Use an before an abbreviation that is pronounced with a vowel sound at the start : an SOS call |an MP3 file

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