二 被动句式的使用
在比较正式的新闻、商务、法律等英语文体中,被动句式因为其更突出客观性的宾语或者事实被广为使用。雅思的图表分析和议论文都是比较正式的文体,所以我们也应该注意多用被动句式。尤其是在以下两个方面:
1.主语不确定
Someone murdered the millionaire last night.→
The millionaire was murdered last night.
2. 主语是泛指很多人或者大部分人
To improve the air quality, we should reduce the use of private cars. →
To improve the air quality, the use of private cars should be reduced.
Most people think that we can get a large share of benefit in the sales campaign.→
It is widely believed that we can get a large share of benefit in the sales campaign.
被动句的用法不仅体现在主句中,在从句、非谓语动词短语中都有可能用到,如:
It is important for nations all over the world to join hands to control the software piracy. →
It is important for nations all over the world to join hands to have the software piracy controlled.
I don’t expect that she returned. → She is not expected to have returned.
I am not sure whether the college graduates will find jobs in the financially difficult year. →
I am not sure whether the college graduates will get employed in the financially difficult year.
但是因为汉语中本来是没有被动句式的,所以受汉化思维的影响很多考生不会想到这一点。这就要求我们对此要引起足够的重视,并且在平时多加练习以培养对其敏感度。
三 名词化
写作中把原本用动词或者形容词表达的地方换成名词叫做名词化(nominalization)。名词化是为了避免太多动词造成的句法处理上的困难,同时也可以把某些陈述型的句式转化成更客观的评价句,更符合议论文的文体要求。如:
Our monitor didn’t come today. He has got a flu.
很明显这两个小句可以用因果关系的信号词连成一句:Because our monitor has a flu, he didn’t come today.,但这个because引导的原因状语从句以及其它的状语从句是考生们很常用的复合句,虽然看似比较复杂,其实仍然是某个人做主语。如果非谓语动词掌握得好,可能我们会想到用Having a flu, our monitor didn’t come today.如果我们把前后两部分分别用一个概括性的名词来替代,中间加上我们熟悉的表示因果关系的动词,这个句子就非常符合议论文的风格:The flu caused the absence of our monitor today.或者The absence of our monitor is because of his illness.至少我们可以尽量将其中的一个小句变成名词,减少某个人做主语的口语化句式的出现频率。
虽然这种表达方法更为客观,句式上更加简洁,但是用比较抽象的概括性词汇来写句子对于越来越趋于低龄化的考生来说的确是个挑战。但是有一些单词是我们在写作中几乎必须要用到的,平时要备好以下几个常见的名词化:lack of(if there is no…), ignorance of (don’t know …), illiteracy in(can’t read…/ can’t use…), failure (didn’t do…)等。而且在具体的使用过程中可以结合介词with使用,使得句法更加凝练。此外个别单词也可以利用题目中的动词的名词性后缀如: -tion,-ment, -isation, -ness, -ity等或者变成动名词形式-ing。如:
More younger generations celebrate the western festivals→the celebration of the western festivals by more younger generations