下面我們對一些在英語寫作中典型的病句實例逐一加以剖析。
一、不一致(Disagreements)
所謂不一致不光指主謂不一致,它還包括了數的不一致、時態不一致及代詞不一致等。
When one have money, he can do what he want to.
(人一旦有了錢,他就能想干什么就干什么。)
剖析:one是單數第三人稱,因而本句的have應改為has;同理,want應改為wants。本句是典型的主謂不一致。
改為:
Once one has money, he can do what he wants (to do).
二、修飾語錯位(Misplaced Modifiers)
英語與漢語不同,同一個修飾語置于句子不同的位置,句子的含義可能引起變化。
I believe I can do it well and I will better know the world outside the campus.
剖析:better位置不當,應置于句末。
三、句子不完整(Sentence Fragments)
在口語中,交際雙方可借助手勢、語氣、上下文等,不完整的句子完全可以被理解。可是書面語就不同了,句子結構不完整會令意思表達不清,這種情況常常發生在主句寫完以后,筆者又想加些補充說明時發生。
There are many ways to know the society. For example by TV, radio, newspaper and so on.
剖析:本句后半部分for example by TV, radio, newspaper and so on不是一個完整的句子,僅為一些不連貫的詞語,不能獨立成句。
改為:
There are many ways to know society, for example, by TV, radio, and newspaper.
四、懸垂修飾語(Dangling Modifiers)
所謂懸垂修飾語是指句首的短語與后面句子的邏輯關系混亂不清。例如:
At the age of ten, my grandfather died.
這句中at the age of ten只點出十歲時,但沒有說明“誰”十歲時。按一般推理不可能是my grandfather,如果我們把這個懸垂修飾語改明確一點,全句就不那么費解了。
改為:
When I was ten, my grandfather died.
五、詞性誤用(Misuse of Parts of Speech)
“詞性誤用”常表現為:介詞當動詞用、形容詞當副詞用、名詞當動詞用等。
Beautiful can be seen everywhere.
改為:
Beauty can be seen everywhere.
六、指代不清(Ambiguous Reference of Pronouns)
指代不清主要講的是代詞與被指代的人或物關系不清,或者先后所用的代詞不一致。試看下面這一句:
Mary was friendly to my sister because she wanted her to be her bridesmaid.
(瑪麗和我姐姐很要好,因為她要她做她的伴娘。)
讀完上面這一句話,讀者無法明確地判斷兩位姑娘中誰將結婚,誰將當伴娘。如果我們把易于引起誤解的代詞的所指對象加以明確,意思就一目了然了。這個句子可改為:
Mary was friendly to my sister because she wanted my sister to be her bridesmaid.
七、不間斷句子(Run?鄄on Sentences)
什么叫run?鄄on sentence?請看下面的例句。
There are many ways we get to know the outside world.
剖析:這個句子包含了兩層完整的意思:“There are many ways.” 以及“We get to know the outside world.”簡單地把它們連在一起就不妥當了。
改為:
There are many ways for us to learn about the outside world.
八、累贅(Redundancy)
言以簡潔為貴。寫句子沒有一個多余的詞,寫段落沒有一個無必要的句子;能用單詞的不用詞組,能用詞組的不用從句或句子。如:
In spite of(盡管) the fact that he is lazy, I like him.
本句的“the fact that he is lazy”系同位語從句,我們按照上述“能用詞組的不用從句”可以改為:In spite of his laziness, I like him.
九、不連貫(Incoherence)
不連貫是指一個句子前言不對后語,或是結構上不暢通。這也是考生常犯的毛病。
The fresh water, it is the most important things of the earth.
剖析:The fresh water 與逗號后的it 不連貫。it 與things 在數方面不一致。
改為:
Fresh water is the most important thing in the world.
十、綜合性語言錯誤(Comprehensive Misusage)
所謂“綜合性語言錯誤”,是指除了上述錯誤以外,還有諸如時態、語態、標點符號、大小寫等方面的錯誤。
看看,你要是寫出如下句子,那也夠登峰造極的了。
Today, Money to everybody is very importance, our’s eat, cloth, live, go etc.
編輯/孫櫟櫟