一、主谓不一致
在英语中,句子的主语和谓语动词在人称和数上必须一致。由于受汉语的影响,许多同学在写作时经常忽略句子的主谓一致关系,从而造成错误。如:
误:Anyone can borrow the books, and it cost nothing to borrow them.
正:Anyone can borrow the books and it costs nothing to borrow them.
析:第一个分句的时态是一般现在时,故第二个分句中的动词cost不可能是动词的过去式,且由于句子主语是it,故谓语动词应用一般现在时costs,而不能用过去式cost。
误:He as well as his parents have been to the Great Wall.
正:He as well as his parents has been to the Great Wall.
析:当作主语的名词或代词后有as well as, in addition to, including, with, along with, together with, but, except等引导的成分时,谓语动词的单复数仍由其前的主语决定。再如:My English teacher together with his family is from England.
误:Not only John but also I are going to Shanghai next week.
正:Not only John but also I am going to Shanghai next week.
析:在由not only…but also…, not just…but…, or, either…or…, neither…nor…连接主语的句子中及在there be句型中,谓语动词的单复数按就近原则处理,即按与谓语动词最靠近的那个主语来确定谓语动词的单复数形式。如:Neither you nor she is a teacher.
二、单复数不一致
名词有可数和不可数之分,而可数名词又有单数与复数之区。在英语写作中,名词单复数问题也是许多同学经常忽略的一个问题。如:
误:On the way home I took a lot of picture because since the scenery was so beautiful. I’ll have them developed this afternoon.
正:On the way home I took a lot of pictures because the scenery was so beautiful. I’ll have them developed this afternoon.
析: take picture中的picture为可数名词,根据下文中的them可知,此处应用复数形式pictures。
误:He has been working so hard recently that he has got good mark in all his subjects.
正:He has been working so hard recently that he has got good marks in all his subjects.
析:从后面的subjects来看,mark应用复数形式,说的是在各科考试中都取得了好分数。
误:To know what is good and doing what is right are two different things.
正:To know what is good and to do what is right are two different things.
析:由and 连接的两部分为并列主语,前一部分用不定式结构,后一部分也应用相同的结构。
误:Fishing is his favourite hobby, and to collect coins is also his hobby.
正:Fishing is his favourite hobby, and collecting coins is also his hobby.
析:误句的问题就在于句子不平行(不一致),因为and前后都为句子,按英语习惯其结构形式应该一致。
三、代词不一致
代词一致的问题主要存在于性别一致、数的一致(单复数问题)和代词的格等方面。如:
误:There are forty students in our class, and thirty of them are boys.
正:There are forty students in our class, and thirty of us are boys.
析:从前一分句可看出,本句谈论的是“我们班”的情况,故后一分句也应用第一人称。
误:Once one has money, we can do what he wants (to do)
正:Once one has money, he can do what he wants (to do)
析:误句中前面提到的是one has money,面又有what he wants,we与前后代词不一致,故应改为he。
四、搭配不一致
搭配不一致主要指句中的固定搭配应保持完整并与上下文一致。如:
误:He worked so hard as he could catch up with his classmates.
正:He worked so hard that he could catch up with his classmates.
析:从固定形式上看,有so…as…,so …that… 等。但从句意上看,此处应该用so…that…,才能保持句意及结构的一致。
误:I was so tired that I fell asleep at the moment my head touched the pillow.
正:I was so tired that I fell asleep the moment my head touched the pillow.
析:此处the moment是名词用作连词,表示“一……就……”,其前不能加at。
五、逻辑主语不一致
按英语习惯,当非谓语动词作状语时,其逻辑主语应与句子主语保持一致,否则便会造成错误。如:
误:After reading the letter, tears ran down his cheeks.
正:After he read the letter, tears ran down his cheeks.
正:After reading the letter, he burst into tears.(from www.nmet168.com)
析:after 引导动名词作状语时,要注意其逻辑主语与句子主语保 持一致。
误:Given more time, the work could have been done better.
正:Given more time, we could have done the work better.
析:在上句中,given 是 give(给)的过去分词,given more time为过去分词短语,在句中用作状语,表示条件,相当于 If we had been given more time。按照英语语法,分词短语用作状语,它的逻辑主语必须与句子主语保持一致。