由于对语法知识掌握得不牢固,或者受汉语思维的影响,考生在托福写作时写出来的句子经常让人迷惑不解。为了避免考生出现这样的错误,小编对托福写作句意不清的原因进行了分析,具体内容如下。
1. 不适当的省略
在英语写作中,为了让句子更加简洁,有时候我们会省略掉一些内容,但是省略的前提是一定是确保句子的意思是清楚的,否则是不可取的。例如:
Although unexpected, we found their visit to our home quite enjoyable.
这句话的意思模糊不清,而且还会给人造成误解,原因是“unexpected”前面省去了“they were”,应该把句子改成:“Although they were unexpected, we found their visit to our home quite enjoyable.”
2. 修饰语误置
如果把修饰语放在句子中不恰当的位置,也会导致句意模糊不清。例如:
Mr. John’s habit of speaking rapidly impressed the visitor.
这句话中的“rapidly”既可以修饰“speaking”,也可以修饰“impressed”,这样句子的意思就模糊不清了。如果想要强调说话的语速快,那么句子可改成:“Mr. John’s habit of rapid speech impressed the visitor.”;如果想要强调对访问者的影响,那么句子可改成:“Mr. John’s habit of speech rapidly impressed the visitor.”这样句子的意思就明确了。
3. 误用表达方式
在英语中,一个意思我们可以用不同的方式来表达。如果用一种表达方式会让句意模糊不清,那么可以考虑换一种方式来表达。例如:
In spite of the few students, the teacher began her class.
这句话中的“In spite of the few students”表达的意思不清楚,不确切,但如换一种方式表达情况可能就完全不一样了。例如:“Though only few students were present, the teacher began her class.”这样原句中的弊端也随之消失了。
4. 缺少必要的细节
为了确保句意完整、清晰,有时候我们不能随意删减细节,否则会造成句意模糊,不被人理解。例如:
Yesterday I went to see my friend. Nobody was there. Disappointed I had to come back home.
这个句子句意不清,原因是缺少一定的细节,可以改写成:“Yesterday I went to see my friend. When I got his home, I found the door was closed. I knocked at the door, but got no answer. Disappointed, I came back home.”改写后的句子意思更清楚,表达更连贯。
5. 语态使用不当
有时候,语态使用不当也会造成句意的模糊,例如:
The teacher went out of the classroom after the class was finished.
主句中用了主动语态,分句中却用了被动语态。这样句子的意思就不清楚了。因为“after the class was finished”既可以理解为该老师上完了课,也可以理解为别的老师上完了课。应该把分句中的被动语态改用主动语态:“The teacher went out of the classroom after he finished the class.”在这个句子中,上完课的一定是该老师本人,这样句子的意思就更清楚了,不可能产生任何误解。
以上就是对托福写作句意不清的原因分析,希望能给考生的学习带来帮助。最后,小编祝愿各位考生在托福考试中取得好成绩!
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