英语写作中的七类一致性错误

 

 

一、比较对象不一致

在英语的比较句型中,两个待比较的对象应具有可比性,这也就是语法上说的比较对象的一致性问题。有的同学在进行英语写作时,经常忽略这个一致性问题,从而写出一些不合英语习惯的句子。如:

误:The population of China is much larger than Japan.

正:The population of China is much larger than that of Japan.

析:the population of China 应与 the population of China比较,而不能与 Japan 比较,即误句主要错在比较对象不一致。注意,为避免重复,正句中的the population of Chinathat of China代替。

误:The style of the new building is different from the old one.

正:The style of the new building is different from that of the old one.

正:The new building is different from the old one in style.

析:用different表示比较时,也要注意比较对象的一致性。就本题而言,新的 style 应与旧的 style 比,或新的building与旧的 building 比,而不能将两者混在一起。

二、主谓不一致

在英语中,句子的主语和谓语动词在人称和数上必须一致。由于受汉语的影响,许多同学在写作时经常忽略句子的主谓一致关系,从而造成错误。如:

误:Anyone can borrow the books, and it cost nothing to borrow them.

正:Anyone can borrow the books and it costs nothing to borrow them.

析:第一个分句的时态是一般现在时,故第二个分句中的动词cost不可能是动词的过去式,且由于句子主语是it,故谓语动词应用一般现在时costs,而不能用过去式cost

误:He as well as his parents have been to the Great Wall.

正:He as well as his parents has been to the Great Wall.

析:当作主语的名词或代词后有as well as, in addition to, including, with, along with, together with, but, except等引导的成分时,谓语动词的单复数仍由其前的主语决定。再如:My English teacher together with his family is from England.

误:Not only John but also I are going to Shanghai next week.

正:Not only John but also I am going to Shanghai next week.

析:在由not only…but also…, not just…but…, or, either…or…, neither…nor…连接主语的句子中及在there be句型中,谓语动词的单复数按就近原则处理,即按与谓语动词最靠近的那个主语来确定谓语动词的单复数形式。如:Neither you nor she is a teacher.

三、单复数不一致

名词有可数和不可数之分,而可数名词又有单数与复数之区。在英语写作中,名词单复数问题也是许多同学经常忽略的一个问题。如:

误:On the way home I took a lot of picture because since the scenery was so beautiful. I’ll have them developed this afternoon.

正:On the way home I took a lot of pictures because the scenery was so beautiful. I’ll have them developed this afternoon.

析: take picture中的picture为可数名词,根据下文中的them可知,此处应用复数形式pictures

误:He has been working so hard recently that he has got good mark in all his subjects.

正:He has been working so hard recently that he has got good marks in all his subjects.

析:从后面的subjects来看,mark应用复数形式,说的是在各科考试中都取得了好分数。

四、非谓语形式不一致

动词的非谓语形式一直是英语学习中的一个难点,而动词非谓语形式的一致性问题更是许多同学经常忽略的一个问题。如:

误:To know what is good and doing what is right are two different things.

正:To know what is good and to do what is right are two different things.

析:由and 连接的两部分为并列主语,前一部分用不定式结构,后一部分也应用相同的结构。

误:Fishing is his favourite hobby, and to collect coins is also his hobby.

正:Fishing is his favourite hobby, and collecting coins is also his hobby.

析:误句的问题就在于句子不平行(不一致),因为and前后都为句子,按英语习惯其结构形式应该一致。

 

 

五、代词不一致

代词一致的问题主要存在于性别一致、数的一致(单复数问题)和代词的格等方面。如:

误:There are forty students in our class, and thirty of them are boys.

正:There are forty students in our class, and thirty of us are boys.

析:从前一分句可看出,本句谈论的是我们班的情况,故后一分句也应用第一人称。

误:Once one has money, we can do what he wants (to do)

正:Once one has money, he can do what he wants (to do)

析:误句中前面提到的是one has money,面又有what he wantswe与前后代词不一致,故应改为he

六、搭配不一致

搭配不一致主要指句中的固定搭配应保持完整并与上下文一致。如:

误:He worked so hard as he could catch up with his classmates.

正:He worked so hard that he could catch up with his classmates.

析:从固定形式上看,有so…as…,so …that… 等。但从句意上看,此处应该用so…that…,才能保持句意及结构的一致。

误:I was so tired that I fell asleep at the moment my head touched the pillow.

正:I was so tired that I fell asleep the moment my head touched the pillow.

析:此处the moment是名词用作连词,表示…………”,其前不能加at

七、逻辑主语不一致

按英语习惯,当非谓语动词作状语时,其逻辑主语应与句子主语保持一致,否则便会造成错误。如:

误:After reading the letter, tears ran down his cheeks.

正:After he read the letter, tears ran down his cheeks.

正:After reading the letter, he burst into tears.

析:after 引导动名词作状语时,要注意其逻辑主语与句子主语保      持一致。

误:Given more time, the work could have been done better.

正:Given more time, we could have done the work better.

析:在上句中,given give()的过去分词,given more time为过去分词短语,在句中用作状语,表示条件,相当于 If we had been given more time。按照英语语法,分词短语用作状语,它的逻辑主语必须与句子主语保持一致。