一、such as與for example的混用
我們知道,在表示舉例子的時候,such as與like是完全等同的,如:Wild flowers such as/like orchids and primroses are becoming rare.
但是同學(xué)們對于such as、for example 的把握還是不夠準(zhǔn)確。我們都知道,后者接句子前者接詞語表示舉例子。于是就有了下面的寫法:
There is a similar word in many languages, such as in French and Italian.
這里的such as改為for example為好,因?yàn)?ldquo;in French and Italian”其實(shí)是“there is a similar word in French and Italian”的簡化,所以要用for example來引出例證。再來看幾個類似的例子:
It is possible to combine computer science with other subjects, for example physics.
二、assume 及claim 使用不夠準(zhǔn)確
我們知道,think, assume, claim是議論文中常用引出觀點(diǎn)的動詞。在實(shí)際作文中,同學(xué)們往往認(rèn)為幾個詞的意思是一樣的,完全可以代換,所以拿過來就用。甚至還有同學(xué)把consider也拿過來與之混用。我們首先還是從定義來看這幾個詞的不同:
Think: to have opinion or belief about sth
翻譯為“認(rèn)為”,通常接賓語從句來表達(dá)比較確定的觀點(diǎn)。
Assume: to think or accept that sth is true but without having proof of it.
翻譯為“假設(shè)、假定”,是否有事實(shí)依據(jù)是不確定的。
Claim: to say sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it.
翻譯為“聲稱”,用這個詞往往意味著不贊同緊跟其后的觀點(diǎn),所以很少用作‘I claim that…"
Scientist are claiming a breakthrough in the fight against cancer, but in fact …
所以“It is claimed that”通常翻譯為“有報道稱。。。”。和“it is reported that ”的區(qū)別在于后者翻譯為“據(jù)報道”,往往代表著作者贊同報告的內(nèi)容。
Consider: to think about sth carefully, especially in order to make a decision
翻譯為“考慮”,一般不用作引出觀點(diǎn),看個例子:
We are considering buying a new car。
所以,千萬不要在雅思大作文的第一段(觀點(diǎn)表達(dá)段)就因?yàn)橛迷~把握不準(zhǔn)而導(dǎo)致對整篇文章的低分印象。
三、介詞使用錯誤
1、普通介詞的誤用
一般表現(xiàn)為固定搭配錯誤,如常把provide sb with sth用成provide sb sth; be satisfied with用成be satisfied for等等,雖然這樣的錯誤看似無傷大雅,但在考官眼里就是影響順暢閱讀的,當(dāng)然會影響最終成績。解決的辦法簡單而古老:把常見的固定搭配牢記于心,問題自然就解決了。
2、 “to”作為介詞的誤用
“to”最常見的用法是以動詞不定式符號的形式出現(xiàn)的,所以同學(xué)們也已經(jīng)習(xí)慣了“to do”的固定搭配。對于一些如walk to me, to the left等介詞to表方向等常見用法一般也不會出現(xiàn)錯誤。但是對于與動詞搭配的介詞to就會經(jīng)常犯錯:
如:More and more students have taken to depend on their parents to make decision for them。
這里的“take to“means “to begin to do sth as a habit”其中”to“為介詞,所以后面只能接名詞或相當(dāng)于名詞的詞,如動名詞。所以句中depend on 應(yīng)改為“depending on”。“take to”的另一個常用用法也需要牢記:
He hasn’t taken to his new school. (這里”take to” means “to start liking sb or sth”)
Prefer A to B中的“to”也是介詞,會有prefer doing sth to doing sth/ prefer sth to sth else,另外,“prefer to do sth rather than do sth”中的“to”可是真正的不定式符號。
類似的常用用法請同學(xué)們牢記:
Be used to doing
Adapt to doing
Adjust to doing
prefer doing sth. to doing sth。
Be accustomed to doing
See to doing 等等,請注意平時仔細(xì)積累。
四、表“建議”的詞匯后面忘記用虛擬從句
這是摘自學(xué)生雅思作文中的一個病句:I suggest he continues his study instead of working after graduation from high school.
因?yàn)?quot;suggest"翻譯為“建議”,所以后面的從句應(yīng)該用虛擬語氣,句中“continues”部分應(yīng)該改為“(should) continue”。
在此,提醒您,一定要牢記以下常見表“建議”的詞匯,而且要記住這些詞接從句時要用虛擬語氣:
Recommend, suggest, advise
五、compare與contrast的誤用
我們先從兩者的定義入手來看兩者的區(qū)別。 Compare的定義為:to examine people or things to see how they are similar or different. Contrast的定義為:to compare two or more things to show the difference between them. 由定義不難看出前者側(cè)重于找到兩個或多個事物的異同,而后者則側(cè)重于它們的不同。
看個例句:
It is interesting to compare their situations to ours./It is interesting to contrast their situations to ours.
前一句翻譯為:對比一下我們的情況與他們的情況會很有趣。
后一句的翻譯為:我們的情況與他們的情況有很大的不同,這很有趣。
再看一個引自O(shè)XFORD ADBANCED LEARNER’S DICTIONARY的例子:
There is an obvious contrast between the culture of East and West.
The company lost $7 million in contrast to a profit of $6.2 million a year earlier.
When you look at their new system, ours seems very old-fashioned by contrast.
不難發(fā)現(xiàn),Compare翻譯為“與。。。相比”而contrast可譯為“明顯不同的是。。。”,切記這種翻譯方式就不會用錯彼此了。