particle

particle — noun

1. a small word, or a short ending added to a word, used mainly to show grammar rat

1.名詞C1
釋義

a small word, or a short ending added to a word, used mainly to show grammar rather than to carry a full meaning by itself.

例句

In Ms Lee's class, 'up' is the particle in 'pick up'.

pattern: verb + particle

Ms Lee underlined the particle in each phrasal verb on the worksheet.

collocation: phrasal verb particle

同義詞
  • function word

    a broader label that covers more grammar words than particle

  • marker

    a general linguistic term, often used for a word that signals a function

  • grammatical element

    a broad descriptive phrase rather than a precise grammar term

文法句型

verb + particle

negative particle

separable phrasal verb with a particle

用法筆記

Often used when explaining phrasal verbs or short grammar markers. In English lessons, the particle usually combines with a verb or marks a grammatical relationship.

常見錯誤

❌Up' is a preposition in 'Please pick up the box.
✅Up' is a particle in 'Please pick up the box.
💡In a phrasal verb, the small word is often analyzed as a particle, not as an ordinary preposition.
❌Running' is a particle in 'She is running fast.
✅Running' is a participle, not a particle.
💡A particle is a small function word or ending, not a verb form.

2. a piece so small that it is hard to see, such as a bit of dust, sand, smoke, or

2.名詞C2
釋義

a piece so small that it is hard to see, such as a bit of dust, sand, smoke, or paint.

例句

A bright particle of dust floated through a band of sunlight.

pattern: particle of + dust

The lab coat was covered with black paint particles after class.

collocation: paint particles

同義詞
  • speck

    usually stresses how tiny and visible the spot is

  • grain

    often used for small hard pieces such as sand, rice, or salt

  • fragment

    usually suggests a broken piece and is often larger than a particle

  • bit

    a very general everyday word, less precise than particle

反義詞
  • chunk

    suggests a much larger piece

  • lump

    used for a larger solid mass rather than a tiny speck

文法句型

particle of + dust/sand/smoke

tiny/fine particle

particles in the air

用法筆記

Often followed by of when you name the material. Common nouns after it include dust, sand, smoke, ash, and paint.

常見錯誤

❌There were many particle on the shelf.
✅There were many particles on the shelf.
💡Use the plural when you mean several tiny pieces.
❌A dust was on the desk.
✅A particle of dust was on the desk.
💡Dust is usually uncountable, so English often uses 'a particle of dust' for one tiny bit.

3. one of the extremely small units that matter is made of, such as an electron, pr

3.名詞C2
釋義

one of the extremely small units that matter is made of, such as an electron, proton, or atom.

例句

The teacher drew a particle moving between the two metal plates.

pattern: particle moving between plates

The lab screen tracks each particle as the beam crosses the tube.

collocation: particle beam

同義詞
  • subatomic particle

    more specific, only for units smaller than an atom

  • atom

    one particular type of particle, not a full synonym for all scientific uses

  • unit

    very broad and much less precise than particle

文法句型

subatomic particle

charged particle

particle beam

用法筆記

Common in physics and related science writing. Distinguish this sense from sense 2: sense 2 is about tiny visible bits like dust or sand, while this sense is about the units that make up matter.

4. only a very slight amount of something, especially in formal statements.

4.名詞C2
釋義

only a very slight amount of something, especially in formal statements.

例句

There wasn't a particle of truth in the rumor about missing money.

pattern: a particle of truth

Theo's note contained not a particle of regret.

同義詞
  • trace

    common in formal or scientific contexts for a very small amount

  • bit

    much more everyday and less formal

  • hint

    works mainly for signs or suggestions, not for all nouns

  • touch

    often used for a small amount of a quality, especially in informal speech

反義詞
  • plenty

    an everyday word for a large amount

  • abundance

    a formal noun for more than enough

文法句型

a particle of + truth/evidence

not a particle of + noun

用法筆記

Most common in the pattern 'not a particle of + noun', especially with truth, evidence, pity, doubt, or interest. It is much more formal than everyday words like bit or trace.

常見錯誤

❌There was not particle of hope left.
✅There was not a particle of hope left.
💡This expression normally needs the article 'a'.