八、结构不完整
在口语中,交际可借助手势、语气、上下文等来理解结构不完整的句子。可是书面语就不同了,句子结构不完整会令句意表达不清。这种情况常常发生在主句写完以后,作者又想加些补充说明的时候。
例:There are many ways to know the society. For example, by TV radio, newspaper and so on. 有许多方式来了解这个社会,例如通过电视、广播、报纸等等。
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,仅仅是一些不连贯的词语,不能独立成句。
正:There are many ways to know the society, for example, by TV, radio, and newspaper and so on.
九、悬垂修饰语
所谓悬垂修饰语是指句首的短语与后面句子逻辑关系混乱不清。
例:At the age of ten, my grandfather died. 在我10岁时,我祖父去世了。
析:at the age of ten 只指出10岁时祖父去世了,但没有说明是“谁”10岁时。按一般的推理不可能是 my grandfather。
正:When I was at the age of ten, my grandfather died.
十、词性误用
“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:Few people can around the world. 很少人能周游世界。
析:around 是副词,这里误当动词用。
正:Few people can travel around the world.
例2:The place is danger. 这个地方危险。
析:danger 是名词,这里误用为形容词。
正:The place is dangerous. 或 The place is in danger.
十一、指代不清
指代不清主要指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。
例1: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。
析:此句让读者无法判断两位姑娘中谁将结婚,谁将当伴娘。
正:Mary was friendly to my sister because she wanted my sister to be her bridesmaid.
例2:Help yourself to some drink, boys and girls. 孩子们,随便喝些饮料吧。
析:句中的 boys and girls 和反身代词 yourself指代不一致。正:Help yourselves to some drink, boys and girls.
十二、间断句子
我们不能把两个或两个以上的句子简单地连结起来,应注意连结时应加上适当的词。
例:There are many ways we get to know the outside world. 我们有许多方式来认识外面的世界。
析:这个句子包含了两层意思: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。
正:There are many ways for us to get to know the outside world.
十三、累赘
语言以简洁为贵。能用单词的不用词组;能用词组的不用从句或句子。
例:Except the fact that he is lazy, I like him. 除了他很懒外,我喜欢他。
析:本句中的 the fact that he is lazy 是同位语从句,我们按照上述“能用词组的不用从句”的原则可以将其改写为:
正:Except his laziness, I like him.
十四、不连贯
不连贯是指一个句子前言不对后语,或是结构上不畅通。
例:The fresh water, it is the most important things of the earth. 淡水是世界上最重要的东西。
析:The fresh water 与逗号后面的 it 不连贯,同时 it 与 things 在数方面不一致。
正:The fresh water is the most important thing in the world.
十五、综合性语言错误
所谓“综合性语言错误”,是指除了上述十几种错误之外,还有诸如时态、语态、标点符号、大小写等方面的错误。