曾經(jīng)一個針對中國幾所頂尖大學的優(yōu)秀作文的調(diào)查顯示,20 篇優(yōu)秀作文中名詞化的使用頻率為7%-8%,而普通習作的使用頻率僅為5%-6%。與此同時,選用了20 篇英語國家學生的英語作文,同樣的方法統(tǒng)計出其名詞化的使用頻率為10%-15%。有人更是戲說道,老外眼中句子分為3個檔次,最差的是主動句,較好的是被動句,倒裝句等,最好的nominalization(名詞化)的句子,這樣的句子最學術(shù)最適合寫論文。那么面對這樣的差異,我們需要重新審視我們寫作中的思維方式,做到如何恰到好處又不“畫蛇添足”。
簡單說,名詞化即是動詞或形容詞被用作名詞的現(xiàn)象。比如動詞轉(zhuǎn)成名詞:discovery-》discovery,move-》movement,refuse-》refusal,又比如形容詞轉(zhuǎn)成名詞:careless-》carelessness,difficult-》difficulty,intense-》intensity.那么什么情況下,我們需要進行名詞化呢
A 謂語動詞的賓語部分
原句:I do not know either what she meant or what he intends.
名詞化:I do not know either her meaning or his intentions.
B 結(jié)合被動形式
原句:If people decide without enough persuasive information.
名詞化:If a decision is made without enough persuasive information.
C 取代諸如從句中“the fact that”的用法
原句:The fact that I denied what he accused me of impressed the jury.
名詞化:My denial of his accusations impressed the jury.
更好的名詞化:a. When I denied his accusations,I impressed the jury.
b. In denying his accusations,I impressed the jury.
D 名詞化部分用在there is/are的后面
原句:We demand that the government stop taxing entertainment.
名詞化:There is a demand for an end to taxation on entertainment.
原句:The floods considerably eroded the land.
名詞化:There was considerable erosion of the land from the floods.