Chapter 09

常见错误集中清扫

第九章 · 把英语母语者批改稿子时最常画红圈的十类错误一次讲清楚。

这一章怎么用

这是一本"急救手册"。把它打印出来,每写完一篇英文都对照清单走一遍。十类错误中只要踩中两个,整篇英文给人的"非母语感"就会暴露。把它们消灭,你的英文会立刻进入"母语者读起来不卡顿"的水平。

错误 1:Run-on Sentence(连写句)

两个完整句子用逗号拼接、或不加任何标点连接,叫 run-on 或 comma splice。这是英语母语者最敏感的错误。

The deadline is tight, we need to start now.

对(四种修法)

The deadline is tight; we need to start now. (分号)
The deadline is tight, so we need to start now. (连词)
The deadline is tight. We need to start now. (分句)
Because the deadline is tight, we need to start now. (从属连词)

核心规则:两个完整句子之间不能只用逗号。需要用分号、连词(and/but/so/or/yet/for/nor)、句号、或从属连词(because/although/while/if)。

错误 2:Sentence Fragment(残句)

缺少主语或谓语的"半句话",叫 fragment。中国学生在追求"高级表达"时特别容易写出这种错。

While we were waiting for the train. The rain started.

While we were waiting for the train, the rain started.

For example, the new policy on remote work. Causing significant disruption to teams.

For example, the new policy on remote work has caused significant disruption to teams.

判断方法:每一个句号前必须有一个独立完整的主谓结构While ... waitingBecause ...For example, ...(无动词)单独成句都是残句。

错误 3:Dangling Modifier(悬垂修饰)

修饰语和它本应修饰的对象失联,叫悬垂修饰。这一类错误读起来常常很滑稽。

Walking down the street, the trees were beautiful.

Walking down the street, I noticed how beautiful the trees were.

原句字面意思是"树在走在街上"。原因是 Walking down the street 应该修饰"我",但句子主语却是 trees。修法:让主句的主语和分词短语的隐含主语对齐。

Having reviewed the proposal, several issues need to be addressed.

Having reviewed the proposal, the team identified several issues that need to be addressed.

易错提醒

每写一个 -ing 或 -ed 开头的分词短语,立刻问自己:这个动作的主体是谁?句子的主语是不是同一个?不是就改。这一招能消灭 90% 的悬垂修饰。

错误 4:Misplaced Modifier(错位修饰)

修饰语放错位置,让句子产生歧义或荒谬效果。

I almost drove my children to school every day. (我几乎每天送孩子上学 vs 我每天差点送孩子上学)

I drove my children to school almost every day.

She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates. (孩子在纸盘上?)

She served the children sandwiches on paper plates.

规则:修饰语应紧挨被修饰对象。only / almost / just / nearly 这类副词位置不同语义就不同,要格外小心。

错误 5:Faulty Parallelism(平行错乱)

第二章已经讲过,这里集中清单化:

The job requires writing reports, attending meetings, and to manage budgets.

The job requires writing reports, attending meetings, and managing budgets.

She is smart, hardworking, and has a lot of ambition.

She is smart, hardworking, and ambitious.

The course teaches students how to think critically, communicate clearly, and solving problems.

The course teaches students how to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve problems.

检查清单:句子里出现 and / or / but 时,前后两端的语法形态必须完全相同(都是动名词,或都是形容词,或都是同时态动词)。

错误 6:Pronoun Reference(代词指代不清)

读者必须能立刻知道一个代词指什么。如果有歧义,必须改写。

When the manager spoke to the engineer, he was upset. (谁不高兴?)

When the manager spoke to the engineer, the manager was upset.

The new policy lowered taxes and increased spending, which is controversial. (which 指哪个?)

The new policy's combination of lower taxes and higher spending is controversial.

典型陷阱:this / that / which 在新句子开头单独使用时,常常没有明确指代对象。改法:在 This 后面加一个具体名词——This combination / This decision / This pattern

错误 7:Tense Inconsistency(时态混乱)

整段时态混跳是中国学生写英文时最容易踩的坑之一。

Yesterday I went to the store and I buy some milk. The cashier was nice and gives me a discount.

Yesterday I went to the store and bought some milk. The cashier was nice and gave me a discount.

规则:一个段落里时态应保持一致,除非有明确的时间信号提示切换。下面是几个合法切换的例子:

I grew up in Shanghai. (过去)
The city has changed dramatically since then. (现在完成)
Today, it is unrecognizable. (现在)

这里三种时态切换是合法的,因为每一句都有明确的时间信号(grew up = 过去,since then = 完成,today = 现在)。

错误 8:Subject-Verb Agreement 隐藏陷阱

第二章讲过基础规则,这里讲几个进阶陷阱:

1. 倒装句中的主谓一致

There is many reasons to consider.

There are many reasons to consider.

2. 集合 + of + 复数

A series of reports were published. (争议)

A series of reports was published. (series 是单数)

3. Each / Every 后必须单数

Each of the students has a laptop. (×have)
Every student is required to attend. (×are)

4. None 单复数都行(看语境)

None of the data is reliable.   (强调集合)
None of the students are present. (强调个体)

错误 9:Article Errors(冠词错误)

这一类错误对 a/an/the/(零冠词) 母语直觉的依赖最大,是中国学生最难根除的问题。

记三条简化原则

  1. 第一次出现 → a/an已经引入过 → the
    I saw a dog yesterday. The dog was very friendly.
  2. 世界上唯一 → thethe sun, the moon, the Internet, the United States
  3. 泛指物(不可数 + 复数)→ 零冠词Information is power. Cats hate water.

常见错误

I am studying English in university.

I am studying English at the university. (具体的大学用 the)
I am studying English at university. (英式:在上大学这件事)

The information are useful.

The information is useful. (information 不可数)

错误 10:Confused Word Pairs(易混词对)

词对区分
affect / effectaffect 动词"影响",effect 名词"效果"The decision affected sales. The effect was minor.
its / it'sits 物主代词,it's = it isThe dog wagged its tail. It's a sunny day.
your / you'reyour 物主,you're = you areYour idea is great. You're right.
their / there / they're物主 / 那里 / they areTheir car is over there. They're waiting.
then / thanthen 然后,than 比First A, then B. A is bigger than B.
fewer / lessfewer 可数,less 不可数Fewer books, less time.
amount / numberamount 不可数,number 可数A large amount of water. A large number of users.
between / amongbetween 两者,among 三者以上Choose between A and B. Choose among A, B, and C.
compose / comprisebe composed of 由...组成,comprise 包含The team comprises 5 members. The team is composed of 5 members.
imply / inferimply 暗示(说话人),infer 推断(听话人)The boss implied a raise; I inferred I should stay.
principal / principleprincipal 主要的 / 校长,principle 原则The principal reason; a moral principle.
complement / complimentcomplement 互补,compliment 称赞The wine complements the dish. He complimented her work.

中式陷阱(China-English Traps)

1. very + 强形容词 = 重复

英语里有些形容词本身就是"强级",不能再加 very。

The performance was very excellent.
The view was very stunning.
The food is very delicious.

The performance was excellent.
The view was stunning.
The food is delicious. (母语者可说 absolutely / truly delicious)

2. "serious" 滥用

中文里"严重"对应的英文不只一个。中国学生倾向所有"严重"都翻成 serious。

中文"严重"语境英文
严重的问题泛指a serious problem / a major issue
严重污染程度severe pollution / heavy pollution
严重伤害程度severe injury / grave injury
事情很严重口语This is bad / This is a big deal
严重违反规定正式flagrant violation / gross violation

3. "impressive" 滥用

impressive 在英语里偏强,用得多了显得没诚意。

过度

Your work is very impressive. Your idea is impressive. The result is impressive.

替换

Your work is exceptional / striking / remarkable / outstanding / well-executed.

4. "Make" 万能动词

第二章已经详谈,再补一些常见错配:

5. 介词常见错配

常见错正确
discuss aboutdiscuss (无介词)
mention aboutmention (无介词)
marry withmarry (无介词) 或 be married to
contact withcontact (无介词) 或 be in contact with
request forrequest (无介词) 或 ask for
graduate (in) universitygraduate from university
different thandifferent from (美) / different to (英)
search a topicsearch for a topic / research a topic
arrive to / in cityarrive at (small place) / arrive in (city)

6. 单复数与不可数陷阱

这些英文词只能当不可数:information, advice, equipment, furniture, news, research, knowledge, evidence, software, feedback, progress, work(工作), traffic, luggage, baggage

I have many advices. The equipments are old. Two researches were published.

I have a lot of advice. The equipment is old. Two studies were published.

7. "person" / "people" / "persons"

常规复数用 peoplepersons 只在法律 / 警方语境出现。

8. "Chinese" 形容词不变化

不要写 ChinesesChinese 既是形容词也是名词,单复数一致。

校对工作流(Self-Editing Checklist)

每写完一篇英文,按这个顺序自己过一遍:

  1. 第一遍(结构):每段是不是只讲一件事?Thesis 在哪?Conclusion 是不是在重复?
  2. 第二遍(句子):找 run-on / fragment / 悬垂 / 错位 / 平行错乱。
  3. 第三遍(动词):圈出所有 be / make / have / do / get,能换强动词的都换。
  4. 第四遍(删词):找冗余表达(at this point in time / in order to / due to the fact that)全删。
  5. 第五遍(搭配):检查介词、冠词、单复数、易混词对。
  6. 第六遍(朗读):大声读一遍。卡顿的地方就是要改的地方。
练习方向

把这一章的十类错误打印出来贴在桌前。每写完一篇英文都对照一遍。坚持一个月,你会发现自己写英文时下意识就开始避免这些错误。这种"内化"才是写作训练的最终目标。