Translation tips

Contents:

“The” Translation tips

Definite Article: the

The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular.

The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group.

For example: "The dog that bit me ran away." (Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me.)

"I was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat!" (Here, we're talking about a particular policeman.)

"I saw the elephant at the zoo." (Here, we're talking about a specific noun. Probably there is

only one elephant at the zoo.)

Count and Noncount Nouns

The can be used with noncount nouns, or the article can be omitted entirely.

"I love to sail over the water" (some specific body of water). "I love to sail over water" (any water).

"He spilled the milk all over the floor" (some specific milk, perhaps the milk you bought earlier that day).

"He spilled milk all over the floor" (any milk).

"A/an" can be used only with count nouns. "I need a bottle of water." "I need a new glass of milk."

Most of the time, you can't say, "She wants a water," unless you're implying, say, a bottle of water.

Geographical use of “the”There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns.

Do not use the before:

1. names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, Bolivia; however,

the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, the United States

The Yangs are going to move to USA next month. The Yangs are going to move to the USA next month. 2. names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Taipei, Miami 3. names of streets: Washington Blvd., Main St.

Xo

4. names of continents: Asia, Europe

5. names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes

6. names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the

Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn

7. names of islands: Easter Island, Maui except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or

the Canary Islands

Do use the before:

1. names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Pacific

2. points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole

3. geographical areas: the Middle East, the West

4. deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest,

the Iberian Peninsula

Omission of Articles

Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:

Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian

Names of sports: volleyball, hockey, baseball

Names of academic subjects: mathematics, biology, history, computer science

Tips of reading long sentences

1. verb

2. Subject

3. Object

4. Clause

5. Participial phrase

6. Connector / conjunction7. Tense / time8. Place 9. phrase10. author’s attitude (modal verbs / adverbs)

11. Pronoun12. Examples13. Transitional words

A survey done by the University of Tokyo for

Oriental Agriculture regarding business people

revealed the following: A study involving the health

claim of 4,000 staff indicated that men who

traveled made 80% more health claims than those

who didn’t, whereas women who traveled made

only 18% more claims than those who didn’t.

Although most astronauts do not spend more than a few months in space, many experience physiological problems when they return to Earth. Some of these ailments are short-lived; others may be long lasting. More than two-thirds of all astronauts suffer from motion sickness while traveling in space.

In the gravity-free environment, the body cannot distinguish up from down. The body’s internal balance system sends confusing signals to the brain, which can result in nausea lasting as long as a few days. A body that is deprived of gravity also experiences changes in the distribution of bodily fluids. More fluid than normal ends up in the face, neck, and chest, resulting in a puffy face, bulging neck veins, and a slightly enlarged.

Throughout the duration of a mission, astronauts’ bodies experience some potentially dangerous disorders. One of the most common is loss of muscle mass and bone density. Another effect of the weightless environment is that astronauts tend not to use the muscles they rely on in a gravity environment, so the muscles gradually atrophy. This, combined with the shift of fluid to the upper body and the resulting loss of essential minerals such as calcium, causes bones to weaken.

In addition to physiological difficulties, astronauts who travel for extended periods may also suffer from psychological stress. Long periods away from family and friends can leave space travelers feeling lonely and depressed.

1. verb

2. subject

3. adjective

4. adverb

5. preposition

6. place

7. time / tense

8. transition signal

Translation tips Clause

Participial phrase

Infinitive

1. Sentence connector2. Appositive 3. Choosing proper words4. Attitude 5. Active or passive voice6. Other grammar rules : comparative

and superlative Adj.

Other tips

一些專家預測，極限運動將會變成

21 世紀的主要運動。

Practice 01

一些專家預測，極限運動將會變成 21 世紀的

主要運動。

Some experts predict that extreme sports will

become the major sports of the 21st century.

1. 一些專家預測，在 21 世紀，極限運動將會比傳統運動更受歡迎。

2. Laura 發現，睡袋是背包客旅遊時必帶的物品之一。

3. 有部落格最棒的事，就是你不需要出門就可以聊天交朋友，也可以分享故事。

4. 很難相信這本看起來很貴的書只需要 50 元。

5. 對我來說，在新的國家不容易教到新朋友。

6. 常常騎腳踏車不但能保持健康還可以減肥。

7. 因為污染造成全球暖化越來越嚴重，每年氣溫也 一直升高。

為了讓有限的能源，發揮最大的效

能，顧問團隊為規劃能源回收計畫，

也就是同時考慮水、電、空調的能源需求。

Practice 02

Practice 03

台灣有一百六十萬名以上的十二歲以下兒童自己承認 , 他們是網路使用者 . 此外 , 據說還有很多年青人做了一些危險的行為 , 例如花大多時間上網 , 在網路上與陌生人交友 , 並透露給別人大多私人資料 .