英语写作水平的提高是一种综合能力的要求,不是写得越多越好;也不是背范文背得越多越好。学习要学“精”,精髓之所在。这里先讲讲在写作中经常出现的错误。如果你能一眼看出问题,说明你的水平在其之上,如果你能看出来,那说明你很有可能会犯与其同样的错误。
一. 不一致(Disagreements)。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.如:They offered me coffee and other drinks. We have a good time talking and laughing. (把have改为had) 名词的单复数一致,如:She said she and my schoolmate all wished me success (应把 schoolmate改为schoolmates)
例如:The Smiths did his best to make me feel well.
析:代词的性、数一致
改为:The Smiths did their best to make me feel well.
例如:When one have money, he can do what he want to.
(人一旦有了钱,他就能想干什么就干什么.)
析:one是单数第三人称,因而本句的have应改为has ;同理,want应改为wants.本句是典型的主谓不一致.
改为:Once one has money, he can do what he wants (to do).
二. 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,因而造成了不必要的误解.例如:
例如:I believe I can do it well and I will better know the world outside the campus.
析:better位置不当,应置于句末.
三. 句子不完整(Sentence Fragments)。在口语中,交际双方可借助手势语气上下文等,不完整的句子完全可以被理解.可是书面语就不同了,句子结构不完整会令意思表达不清,这种情况常常发生在主句写完以后,笔者又想加些补充说明时发生.
例如:There are many ways to know the society. For example by TV, radio, newspaper and so on.
析:本句后半部分"for example by TV, radio, newspaper and so on.”不是一个完整的句子,仅为一些不连贯的词语,不能独立成句.
改为:There are many ways to know society, for example, by TV, radio, and newspaper.
四.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.
例如:At the age of ten, his grandfather died.
析:这句中"at the age of ten"只点出十岁时,但没有说明谁十岁时.按一般推理不可能是my grandfather,如果我们把这个悬垂修饰语改明确一点,全句就不那么费解了.
改为:When he was ten, his grandfather died.
例如:To do well in college, good grades are essential.
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.