1.不一致(Disagreements)所謂不一致不光指主謂不一致,它還包括了數(shù)的不一致時態(tài)不一致及代詞不一致等。
例1. 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(shù)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)
2、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。對于這一點中國學生往往沒有引起足夠的重視,因而造成了不必要的誤解。例1. 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。
3、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(fā)生在主句寫完以后,筆者又想加些補充說明時發(fā)生。
例1. 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。
4、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。
例1. To do well in college, good grades are essential。
剖析:句中不定式短語 “to do well in college” 的邏輯主語不清楚。
改為:
To do well in college, a student needs good grades。
5.詞性誤用(Misuse of Parts of Speech)“詞性誤用”常表現(xiàn)為:介詞當動詞用;形容詞當副詞用;名詞當動詞用等。
例1. None can negative the importance of money。
剖析:negative 系形容詞,誤作動詞。
改為:
None can deny the importance of money。
6、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。
例1. And we can also know the society by serving it yourself。
剖析:句中人稱代詞we 和反身代詞yourself指代不一致。
改為:
We can also know society by serving it ourselves。
7、不間斷句子(Run-on Sentences)什么叫run-on sentence?請看下面的例句。
例1. 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。