第二章 遣词造句

第一节    词的类型

英语词汇极多：《牛津英语词典》收了四十多万个词。当然并没有人认识或需要使用这么多词。常人为了一般的目的只用其中很小的一部分。学习用英语写作的中国学生应先学会使用最有用也最常用的词来表达自己的思想。有时初学者会误用一些词，这些词往往并不全错，只是不恰当、不准确、不地道、或不生动。因此，对初学者来讲，对选词的方法有基本的了解是有益的。
常用的词按文体来分有正式的（formal），一般的（general），口语的（colloquial）。
这类词主要用于正式文体，多数源于希腊和拉丁文，其特点是多音节词较多。
如下列单词，前一个是一般词汇，后者是正式词汇。
same---identical, speech---oration, learned---erudite, destroy---annihilate, stiff---rigid, try---endeavor, piece---fragment
而下列词汇前一个是口语化的词汇，后者是一般词汇
ain’t---am not， damn---very， cool---very good
另外，还应注意一些词的感情色彩，例如 country, nation, state, land的原义有相同之处，都相当于中文的“国家”，但它们的涵义却很不同。country指地区、其人口及政府，nation主要指人民，state主要指政府及政治组织，land比country的意思广泛些，而且文雅些，并更有感情色彩。
关于词义中国学生特别要注意一点：不应把一个英语词的中文译法看作它的确切意思，如大家都知道send的意思是“送”，便会造出这样的句子：He came to send me the letter.（应为He brought me the letter.）, 或I sent my friend to the station yesterday(应为I went to the station with my friend to see him off. )再如family和home都可译为”家”, 但他们的意思很不一样:family指亲属,而home指住的地方.

第二节 英语写作常见错误与分析

除了措辞不当外,在造句方面中国学生尤其是初学者也经常犯一些错误,如何写出准确得体的英文句子。句子的质量直接影响作者思想内容的表达，而一些最基本的句子层次的错误往往会降低整篇文章的质量。下面我们对一些在英语写作中典型的病句实例逐一加以剖析．
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.例如:
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１There 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 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：句中人称代词we和反身代词yourself指代不一致。改为：
We can also know society by serving it ourselves.

七．不间断句子(Run-on Sentences)
什么叫run-on sentence?请看下面的例句。
例１． There are many ways we get to know the outside world.
剖析：这个句子包含了两层完整的意思：“There are many ways.”以及“We get to know the outside world.”。简单地把它们连在一起就不妥当了。
改为：
There are many ways for us to learn about the outside world.或：
There are many ways through which we can become acquainted with the outside world

八． 措词毛病(Troubles in Diction)
Diction是指在特定的句子中如何适当地选用词语的问题，囿于教学时间紧迫，教师平时在这方面花的时间往往极其有限，影响了学生在写作中没有养成良好的推敲，斟酌的习惯。他们往往随心所欲，拿来就用。所以作文中用词不当的错误比比皆是。学生所接触的词汇主要来自精读和泛读，他们所掌握的词汇有口语、一般用语、正式用语，也有俚语、方言；有美国英语，也有英国英语。他们对同义词或近义词的细微区别不太了解，英语词与近义汉字区别不清。例如：
误: He finally resolved the problem.
正:He finally solved the problem.
resolve 的汉语意思是“使分解”、“解决”，resolve虽有解决之意，只是解决的不是问题，而是contradiction 或doubt, 解决问题应用 "solve"。
又如：The increasing use of chemical obstacles in agriculture also makes pollution.
(农业方面化学物质使用的不断增加也造成了污染。)
剖析：显然，考生把obstacles“障碍”，“障碍物”误作substance“物质”了。另外“the increasing use (不断增加的使用)” 应改为“abusive use(滥用)”。
改为：
The abusive use of chemical substances in agriculture also causes/leads to pollution.
而英语则有词性的变化，学生辨别词汇种类的能力不够，同一汉语意思的动词、名词和形容词分不清，造成词汇错误。例：
误：The students complaint that there are too much homework.
正：The students complain that there is too much homework.
误：If you work hard, you will be sure to success.
正：If you work hard, you will be sure to succeed.

九．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。如：
In spite of the fact that he is lazy, I like him.
本句的“the fact that he is lazy”系同谓语从句，我们按照上述“能用词组的不用从句”可以改为：In spite of his laziness, I like him.
例１．For the people who are diligent and kind, money is just the thing to be used to buy the thing they need.
剖析：整个句子可以大大简化。
改为：
Diligent, caring people use money only to buy what they need.
　
十．不连贯(Incoherence)
不连贯是指一个句子前言不对后语，或是结构上不畅通。这也是初学者常犯的毛病。
例１．The fresh water, it is the most important things of the earth.剖析：The fresh water 与逗号后的it 不连贯。It 与things 在数方面不一致。
改为：
Fresh water is the most important thing in the world.

十一．综合性语言错误(Comprehensive Misusage)
所谓“综合性语言错误”，是指除了上述十种错误以外，还有诸如时态，语态，标点符号，大小写等方面的错误。
例1．
Today, Money to everybody is very importance, our’s eat, cloth, live,
go etc.

针对电大学生来说，他们在作文中常犯的语法错误的类型有：名词单复数变化错误；时态不一致谓语或句型出错，句子不完整；介词、冠词遗漏等。
(1) 时态、人称和数用错
汉语动词无时态、人称和数的变化，而对英语动词来说，这些都至关重要。例：
误：They said they can complete the work in three months.
正：They said they could complete the work in three months.
误：My father is a work and my mother is teachers.
正：My father is a worker and my mother is a teacher.

（2) be 动词遗漏
在主系表结构中，汉语中没有动词的句子是允许的，英语中每个完整的句子都必须有动词来承担谓语，如：“我累了。”这个句子没有动词作谓语，而用形容词，但英语形容词不能作谓语，一定要写成：I'm tired.
误：He will sure to come and help me.
正：He will be sure to come and help me.

(3) 句子不完整
　　有的考生因为对句子结构认识模糊，所以出现只写半句的现象，这也是造成失分的原因之一。
误：Because the kids thought their wages were too low.
正：Because the kids thought their wages were too low, they demanded a high pay.
误：While waiting for the bus.
正：While waiting for the bus, he talked with the little girl.
　　
(4) 介词、冠词遗漏
还有一些考生因为没有熟练掌握介词或者冠词的用法，也会出现明显的错误，造成丢分现象。
误：Because his mistake several people died.
正：Because of his mistake several people died.
误：I have never seen such beautiful picture.
正：I have never seen such a beautiful picture.
　　
课堂练习：
1．选择最恰当的词汇
1）He was born into a revolutionary __________. (home, family)
2）Would you like to stop by my _________ (family, home) and have a cup a of tea?
3）During the fighting a few soldiers were _________ (injured, wounded).
4）In the accident his right leg was ________ (injured, wounded).
5）Later he ________ (found, found out) that the real cause of the fire was negligence on the part of the man on duty.
6） n arriving in the ancient city he _______ (found, found out) that it was very quiet and beautiful.
7） o you know the _________ (cause, reason) why he has resigned?
8） The main _________ (cause, reason) of the stoppage was the insufficient supply of raw material.
9） Empress Dowager Cixi was ________ (famous, notorious) for her cruelty.
10）The enemy troops were driven back when they ________ (attempted, tried) to cross the border.
2．改正下列句子中的错误
1) Much more money is offered in Hong Kong, you can enjoy a more comfortable life there than in some other cities.
2) Because the operator was careless. The new computer was damaged.
3) One should sift the flour before they make the pie.
4) A group of we manages will fly to the convention next Saturday.
5）.I looked at the tree I had felled with my hands in my pockets.
6）The hostess served toast to her guest that was badly burned.
7）The dealer sold the Mercedes to the town banker with leather seats.
8）She laughed as John raged with delight.
9）He returned the bike to a neighbor that was broken.
10）To get up early, the clock was set at six.