增强英语语句表现力的有效办法

张东东

增强英语语句表现力的有效办法

  纵观多年来国家四、六级英语作文考试,考生作文成绩欠佳的主要原因除了准确性和连贯性差之外,语句软弱无力也是不容忽略的一个方面。因此在英语写作教学中,如何增强语句表现力的问题必须引起我们足够的重视,以提高学生写作的表达质量。为此,笔者结合自己的写作教学实践,针对该项技能的训练提出了一些切实可行的有效做法,供广大同仁和英语学习者参考借鉴。

  一、避免使用语意弱的“be”动词。

  1、把句中的表语转换为不同的.修饰语。例如:

  Weak: The trees are bare。 The grass is brown。 The landscape seems drab。

  Revision:The brown grass and bare trees form a drab landscape。 (转换为前置定语)

  Or: The landscape, bare and brown, begged for spring green。 (转换为并列结构作后置定语)

  2、将作表语用的形容词或名词变为行为动词。例如:

  1) Weak: The team members are good players。

  Revision: The team members play well。

  2) Weak: One worker's plan is the elimination of tardiness。

  Revision: One worker's plan eliminates tardiness。

  3、在以“here”或“there”开头的句子中,把“be”动词后的名词代词变成改写句的主语。例如:

  1) Weak: There is no opportunity for promotion。

  Revision: No opportunity for promotion exists。

  2) Weak: Here are the books you ordered。

  Revision: The books you ordered have arrived。

  二、多用语意具体的动词,保持句意简洁明了。例如:

  1、Poor: My supervisor went past my desk。

  Better: My supervisor sauntered (=walked slowly) past my desk。

  2、Poor: She is a careful shopper。

  Better: She compares prices and quality。

  三、尽量运用主动语态。例如:

  1、Weak: The organization has been supported by charity。

  Better: Charity has supported the organization。

  2、Weak: The biscuits were stacked on a plate。

  Better: Mother stacked the biscuits on a plate。

  四、防止使用语意冗长累赘的词语。例如:

  1、Wordy: My little sister has a preference for chocolate milk。

  Improved: My little sister prefers chocolate milk。

  2、Wordy: We are in receipt of your letter and intend to follow your recommendations。

  Improved: We have received your letter and intended to follow your recommendation。

  3、Redundant: We had a serious crisis at school yesterday when our chemistry laboratory caught fire。

  Improved: We had a crisis at school yesterday when our chemistry laboratory caught fire。

  4、Redundant: My sister and I bought the same, identical dress in different stores。

  Improved: My sister and I bought the same dress in different stores。

  五、杜绝滥用陈旧词语或难懂的专业术语。例如:

  1、Weak: They will not agree to his proposals in any shape or form。

  Improved: They will not agree to any of his proposals。

  2、Weak: I need her financial input before I can guesstimate our expenditures next fall。

  Improved: I need her financial figures before I can estimate our expenditures next fall。