【问】 She never thought of it again，but then months later，she received a letter from a girl inHolland. Both girls write to each other regularly now. (New Concept English，Book 2，L. 22)

Both girls是指She(Jane)和a girl in Holland。既然是特指，为什么不用both the girls?

【答】 如有的语言学家所指出的那样，Both is intrinsically definite...even when it is not fol-lowed by the definite article.(both在本质上是有定的，即使它后面没有定冠词时，也是如此)。因此，上句中的Both girls=Both the girls。类例：

1.Both eyes were closed.(CGEL)

闭上了两只眼睛。

2. Both (the) students were excellent. (CGEL)

这两个学生都很优秀。

而two与both不同，在表示特指时必须加定冠词：

1.The two students were excellent. (CGEL)

这两个学生都很优秀。

2. The two boys were carrying a large box.

两个男孩正抬着一个大盒子。

3. In the struggle，the strap broke and，with the bag in their possession，both men startedrunning through the trees. (New Concept English，Book 2，L.44)

在争夺中，皮包带子断了，皮包落在他们手里后，那两人开始往树林里跑去。

4. Both men had just begun to swim towards the shore，when they noticed with dismaythat the speed-boat was moving in a circle. (New Concept English.Book 2，L.86)那两个人开始往岸上游，惊愕地发现快艇在转圈子。

5. When she remembered that she had gone shopping after the maid had left and she knewthat she had turned both keys in their locks. (New Concept English，Book 3，L.58)她又想起她是在女仆走后才出去购物的，并且她将两把锁都锁上了。