在英语学习中,中国学生由于受母语的影响,常常会不自觉地站在汉语的角度去审视所写的英语是否正确,因此在英语写作时会不断出现表达上的错误,造成信息传递的梗塞,让人感到不知所云。下面就一些常见的错误,探讨一下英汉表达上的差异。

一、词汇错误

1.同义词使用错误

中国的物价低廉。(误)The prices are cheap in China.(正)The prices are low in China.

cheap虽然能表示“便宜的”(反义词为expensive,dear),但它所修饰的名词应是具体的物品或服务。如:Fruits are cheap in autumn.要表示价格和费用的低廉,需用low这个词。它的反义词是high。

2.词义内涵理解错误

我身体很好,因此从不感冒。(误)I have a good body so I never catch cold.(正)I am in good health So I never catch cold.

body指的是人的“身躯”“身体”(whole physical structure of a human being),而这句汉语中的“身体”指的是“健康状况”(condition of a person;s body),所以只有用be in good health才能确切表达“身体好”。

3.搭配使用错误

我们的老师教了我们很多有用的知识。(误)Our teachers taught us a lot of useful knowledge.(正)Our teachers imparted/communicated a lot of useful knowledge to us.

teach表示“教”时,是指传授某种知识或技艺的过程(to cause to know a subiect或to cause to know how)。如:Mr.Li teaches us history.He is teaching his son how to swim.而impart或communicate的意思是“使某事物被人知晓”(to make something known to somebody)。所以teach knowledge不符合英语表达习惯。

4.词性使用错误

多数学生反对这项提议。(误)Most students against the proposal.(正)Most students were against the proposal.

汉语中“反对”可作动词用,而against在英语中只是个介词,不能单独作谓语,需要和动词结合使用。

二、语法错误

1.介词使用错误

(1)昨天我们坐他的车去了上海。(误)We went to Shanghai by his car yesterday.(正)We went to Shahghai in his car yesterday.

介词by用来表示交通、传递等的方式时,后面必须接没有冠词或所有格修饰的名词。如:to go by plane, to send sth.by post等。所以要强调“乘他的车”的时候,就要用介词in。

(2)非常感谢你来机场接我。(误)It was awfully good for you to come and meet me at the airport.(正)It was awfully good of you to come and meet me at the airport.

在It+be+adj.+for+sb.to do sth.句型中,介词for前面的形容词通常是对不定式所指的事给予评论。如:It isn't right for you to gossip about your boss.(你说你老板的闲话是不对的)。但在It+be+adj.+of+sb.+to do sth.句型中,介词of前面的形容词通常是表示某人的特质或性格等主观的东西。

2.形容词前、后置错误

出席的代表都同意他的提议。(误)The present representatives agreed to his motion.(正)The representatives present agreed to his motion.

在英语中有些形容词可置于名词中心词的前或后,其意义不变,但有的就不同。present置于名词前时,意为“目前的”“现在的”。如:You can't use it in its present condition.只有当它置于名词后时,才解释为“出席的”“在座的”。

3.时态使用错误

收到你的信我很高兴。(误)I am very glad to receive your letter.(正)I was very glad to receive your letter.

虽然有些情况发生的时间不很清楚,但实际上是过去某时发生的,应当用过去时态。汉语动词无时态变化,但英语中动词的时态变化却很重要。

4.动词非谓语形式使用错误

天气很热,我们决定去游泳。(误)Being a hot day, we decided to go for a swim.(正)It being a hot day, we decided to go fora swim.

作伏语的分词短语逻辑上的主语要与主句的主语一致,当它们不一致时,分词短语应有自己独立的逻辑主语,这种结构称为独立结构,多用来表示时间、原因、条件或伴随情况。如:Later that autumn, his work finished, he prepared to return to his institute.

高考英语写作常见错误分析