一. 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1. 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.)
剖析: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1. I believe I can do it well and I will better know the world outside the campus.
剖析: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, my grandfather died. 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 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.
五. 词误用(Misuse of Parts of Speech)
“词误用”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1. 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.
六. 指代不清(Ambiguous Reference of Pronouns)
指代不清主要讲的是代词与被指代的人或物关系不清,或者先后所用的代词不一致。试看下面这一句:
Mary was friendly to my sister because she wanted her to be her bridesmaid.
(玛丽和我姐姐很要好,因为她要她做她的伴娘。)
读完上面这一句话,读者无法明确地判断两位姑娘中谁将结婚,谁将当伴娘。如果我们把易于引起误解的代词的所指对象加以明确,意思就一目了然了。这个句子可改为:
Mary was friendly to my sisterbecause she wanted my sister to be her bridesmaid.