中国考生,因为母语的原因,经常是先想中文,再将其翻译成英语。如此一来,便会出现许许多多的错误。本文搜罗了典型的句型错误,希望广大考生能够引以为戒。
在英文写作中,对于许多英文功底不强或者英文文章熏陶不够的学生,他们的写作模式是脑子里想出一个中文的句子,然后将其翻译成英文。并且,在翻译的时候,他们容易进行逐字逐句的直译。在这种情况下,这类学生无法区别中英语序的不同,写出的句子有明显的按照中文语序翻译的痕迹,造成了语法错误。本文将针对这种情况,给出一些实际性的建议,希望能给这些学生一定的帮助。
这种按照中文语序翻译的句子会有以下的错误:
一、 双谓语错误
例1:
题目:Some people believe that students should be encouraged to make comments on or even criticize their teachers. Others argue that respect and discipline will disappear. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
对于这道题目,有学生在写学生应该评估老师这个观点时,提出这样一个论点:学生评估老师能够让他们提高教学质量。
按照中文语序,翻译成英文是:
Students make comments on teachers can make teachers improve their teaching quality.
在这句话中,有两个谓语:make和 can make,存在着双谓语错误。
针对这种情况,有以下两种建议可以避免这种错误:
1. 采用动名词形式作主语,将其改成:
Making comments on teachers enables them to improve their teaching quality.
2. 用if 改写主语,将其改成:
If students make comments on teachers, it is likely to improve teachers’ teaching quality.
例2:
题目:Some people say university students should pay for their tuition fees. Others argue that the government should pay for the tuition fees. What is your opinion?
有学生认为政府应该支付大学学费。理由是:政府支付学费能够减轻家庭的经济压力。
按照中文语序,翻译成:
The government pay for the tuition fees can relieve family’s financial burden.
同样这句话犯了双谓语错误,有两个谓语:pay 和 can relieve
按照例1提供的改写方式,可以写成:
1. Paying for the tuition fees by the government can relieve family’s financial burden.
2. If the government pays for the tuition fees, it can relieve family’s financial burden.
例3:
题目:Each year some languages die out. Some people believe it is good because it makes it easier for people to communicate and relieves their burden of learning a foreign language. Do you agree or disagree?
在写这篇文章时,有些同学认为有些语言灭绝是不好的。翻译成:
Some languages die out is negative.
这句话也犯了双谓语的错误。分析这句话,发现有一个形容词。那么采取的方法是:
1. 采用主语从句It is adj that +从句
It is negative that some languages die out.
2. 采用It is adi for sb/sth to do sth
It is negative for some languages to die out.
二、多重名词叠加作定语错误
例1:政府应该给贫困地区的孩子提供受教育的机会。
按中文语序翻译的句子:
The government should provide poor area children with gaining education opportunity.
对于这种错误,建议抓住中心语与修饰词的关系,并将中心语提前。
“贫困地区的孩子”这个表述中,中心语是“孩子”,修饰词是“贫困地区”,表示的是孩子所处的地点。因此可以改成:children in poor areas
“接受教育的机会”,中心语是“机会”,修饰词“接受教育”与它是所属关系。可以改成:the opportunity of gaining education
所以整句话可以修改成:
The government should provide children in poor areas with the opportunity of gaining education.