English Grammar for High School (Revised Edition)

Author: Chief Editor: Li Shizhao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-11-18
Features: This book is specifically written for middle school students, middle school teachers, and English self-learners. Since its publication, it has been reprinted seven times, with a cumulative print run of over 1.6 million copies. The revised edition retains the strengths of the original while adding content tailored to the current needs of middle school English teaching, giving it a more modern feel.
Explanation: In 1980, we compiled this English Grammar for Middle School Students based on the requirements of the Teaching Syllabus for Full-Time Ten-Year Middle School English Teaching issued by the Ministry of Education. It has been used by middle school students, middle school teachers, and English self-learners since 1981. Since then, it has been reprinted seven times, with a cumulative print run of over 1.6 million copies. The original English Grammar for Middle School Students was divided into 19 chapters, each including: (1) grammar explanations, and (2) exercises. In terms of grammar explanations, appropriate comparisons were made between Chinese and English, with the writing aimed at being easy to understand. For the exercises, they were arranged based on the principle of progressing from simple to complex, from shallow to deep, starting with individual items and then moving to comprehensive ones. They focused on highlighting key and difficult points to cultivate students' practical application skills. The book includes answers to the exercises at the end. The original was written by comrades such as Wang Shaofang, Guan Zongxiang, Chen Qi, Zhang Lifang, Ma Shuying, Gong Yafu, and Shan Xianjian, under the guidance and review of Professor Xu Mengxiong of Renmin University of China. The revised English Grammar for Middle School Students was revised based on the 1981 edition to meet the current needs of middle school English teaching. In addition to adding 3 chapters (Chapters 20 to 22), some explanations of grammar points in the original book were modified or supplemented, and changes were also made to the examples and exercises. The entire revision was led by Shan Xianjian. Due to the limitations of the compilers, there may still be omissions or errors in the revised edition. We sincerely welcome readers to provide valuable feedback for correction in future reprints or revisions.
Compilers: July 1986
Excerpt:
Chapter 3: Articles
Articles are divided into indefinite articles (a, an) and definite articles (the).
I. Usage of Indefinite Articles
Indefinite articles are used before nouns to indicate "one" or "a." The indefinite article a is used before nouns that begin with a consonant sound (not with a vowel letter), while an is used before nouns that begin with a vowel sound. For example: a book, a chair, an apple, an ink bottle, an hour. (For words starting with the letter u, when u is pronounced as [ju:], use a before it. For example: a university.)
(1) When introducing someone or something for the first time, use the indefinite article a to serve as an introduction.
1) What is he?
He is a teacher.
(The indefinite article a serves as an introduction here, indicating the person's occupation.)
2) There is a new book on the desk.
(Introducing what is on the desk to others.)
3) A Wang is looking for you.
(Telling the person who is looking for you.)
4) I saw an Indian elephant in the zoo yesterday.
(Telling others what you saw in the zoo.)
(2) When the indefinite article a is used with a noun, it usually generalizes the whole person or thing, representing a category, i.e., using one to represent the whole.
1) A spade is a tool.
(Cannot be translated as: A spade is a tool. The indefinite article a represents a category of things.)
2) A bike is very useful in the countryside.
(Cannot be translated as: A bike. The indefinite article a represents the category of bicycles.)
3) An elephant is stronger than a horse.
(Cannot be translated as: An elephant is stronger than a horse. The indefinite article a represents the category of elephants.)
4) A post office is a place where people can post letters, parcels, and so on.
(A post office is a place where people can post letters, parcels, and other items.)
(3) The indefinite article a can be used in certain phrases, where it is an indispensable part of the phrase.
1) go out for a walk (go out for a walk)
2) a long time (a long time)
3) a few (some, a small number, affirmative)
4) a little (a small amount)
5) a mouthful (a mouthful)
(4) The indefinite article a can be used before nouns that represent time, speed, price, etc., with the meaning of "per."
1) three times a day (three times a day)
2) The envelopes are twelve fen a dozen. (Envelopes cost twelve fen a dozen.)
3) We have an English dictation once a week. (We have an English dictation once a week.)
(5) The indefinite article a is used before abstract nouns to indicate specific introduction: what kind of...