不用冠词 (A1)

有时候东西前面什么都不加。a = 很多当中的一个，新提到的 · the = 我们俩都知道是哪一个 · 什么都不加 = 泛指。

a、the、什么都不加

• Ira wants a sandwich. The sandwich is big.
• Liam likes coffee.
• Sandwiches are cheap here.
• Not "I like the coffee. (which coffee? the one we both know)" — say "I like coffee. (all coffee, in general)". a = 很多当中的一个 · the = 我们俩都知道是哪一个 · 什么都不加 = 泛指。
• Ira wants a sandwich. The sandwich is big.
• Liam likes coffee.
• Sandwiches are cheap here.
• a sandwich — one of many, a new one
• the sandwich — you both know which one
• coffee — coffee in general

泛指一类东西

说的是一整类东西、泛泛而谈（所有的，哪儿的都算），就用复数，前面什么都不加。

• Sandwiches are cheap here.
• Liam loves cookies.
• Apples are good for you.
• Not "I like the apples. (which apples? the ones we both know)" — say "I like apples. (all apples, in general)". 一整类、泛泛而谈 → 通常什么都不加。
• 试一试: Ira 在跟一个孩子聊吃的。她说："Eat fruit! ___ apples and bananas are good for you." 哪个词合适？ (nothing / the) 答案: nothing — 泛指一类东西、所有的苹果和香蕉、哪里的都算，前面什么都不加：Apples and bananas are good for you。The apples and bananas 会变成你们俩都知道的那些具体的苹果和香蕉。

回到具体的那一个

泛指一类东西，什么都不加。但说的是眼前这一个，就要把 the 加回来。

• Liam likes coffee. → all coffee, in general
• The coffee here is very good. → this cafe's coffee
• Ira loves apples. → The apples on this table are sweet.
• Not "Ira has a cup of coffee. "Coffee in my cup is cold."" — say "Ira has a cup of coffee. "The coffee in my cup is cold."". 泛指 → 什么都不加。具体的那一个 → the。
• 试一试: Ira 在 Ghafridge Cafe 喝一杯茶。她对服务员说："___ tea in my cup is cold." 哪个词合适？ (The / nothing) 答案: The — 她说的是她杯子里的茶，不是全世界的茶，所以 the 又回来了：The tea in my cup is cold。

数不了的词

有些词数不了，比如 water、coffee、rice。泛指的时候，这个词前面什么都不加，就说 coffee。在咖啡馆里，a coffee 指的是一杯咖啡。

• Liam drinks water.
• Ira loves coffee.
• There is rice on the menu.
• Not "I like a coffee. (coffee in general, so no a)" — say "I like coffee. (all coffee, in general)". 泛指时，数不了的词，比如 water、coffee、rice → 不加 a，直接用这个词。
• 试一试: Liam 说的是他每天喝的水。他说："I drink ___." 哪个合适？ (a water / water) 答案: water — 如果你选了"a water"，再看一下：Liam 说的是他每天喝的水，是泛指。泛指数不了的东西时，前面什么都不加：就说 water。

常见错误有哪些？

错误	正确	原因
I like the coffee. (which coffee? the one we both know)	I like coffee. (all coffee, in general)	a = 很多当中的一个 · the = 我们俩都知道是哪一个 · 什么都不加 = 泛指。
I like the apples. (which apples? the ones we both know)	I like apples. (all apples, in general)	一整类、泛泛而谈 → 通常什么都不加。
Ira has a cup of coffee. "Coffee in my cup is cold."	Ira has a cup of coffee. "The coffee in my cup is cold."	泛指 → 什么都不加。具体的那一个 → the。
I like a coffee. (coffee in general, so no a)	I like coffee. (all coffee, in general)	泛指时，数不了的词，比如 water、coffee、rice → 不加 a，直接用这个词。