1不一致
(Disagreements)
所谓不一致不光指主谓不一致,它还包括了数的不一致、时态不一致及代词不一致等。
例子: In this day and age, cultures were becoming very similar.
剖析:in this day and age 是现在的时间状语,而逗号后面句子却是一般过去时态。
改为:In this day and age, cultures are becoming very similar.
2 修饰语错位
(Misplaced Modifiers)
英语与汉语不同,同一个修饰语置于句子不同的位置,句子的含义可能引起变化。对于这一点中国学生往往没有引起足够的重视,因而造成不必要的误解。
例子: I read an interesting story in a magazine about sportsmen.
剖析:sportsmen 的修饰对象不明,既可能是magazine又可能是story.
改为:In a magazine, I read an interesting story about sportsmen.
3 句子不完整
(Run-on Sentence)
中文是“意合语言”,所以更注重语义而不是句法的结构性,常见特征是多个完整句子用逗号来间隔。而英语是“形合语言”,表现在句法结构紧密,多个完整句子之间不能直接用逗号隔开,要么加连词,要么断句。
例子:In general, computers help students learn things more effectively, computer games may lower their efficiency.
剖析:这两个句子有各自的主谓结构,所以是完整的句子,应该在effectively和 computer 间加上连词。
改为:In general, computers help students learn things more effectively, but computer games may lower their efficiency.
4 悬垂修饰语
(Dangling Modifiers)
所谓悬垂修饰语是指句首的短语与后面句子的逻辑关系混乱不清。
例子: To do well in college, good grades are essential.
剖析:句中不定式短语 “to do well in college” 的逻辑主语不清楚。
改为:To do well in college, a student needs good grades.
5 词性误用
(Misuse of Parts of Speech)
“词性误用”常表现为:介词当动词用、形容词当副词用、名词当动词用等。
例子: None can negative the importance of money.
剖析:negative 系形容词,误作动词。
改为:None can deny the importance of money.
6累赘
(Redundancy)
言以简洁为贵。写句子没有一个多余的词;写段落没有一个无必要的句子。能用单词的不用词组;能用词组的不用从句或句子。
例子:I think, in my opinion, this plan is feasible.
剖析:I think 和 in my opinion 是一个意思,所以不应该同时写在一个句子里面。
改为:I think this plan is feasible.