学生写作时,如果仅局限在把内容交代清楚的水准上,只选用一些普通的、直截了当的词,或一律使用简单句平铺直叙,那么,这样写出来的文章就会像一碗白开水,呆板、单调,没有可读性。要使文章耐人寻味,有深度,同学们就应尝试使用一些高级词汇或句型,以凸显文章的亮点,使文章增添文采,给读者(尤其是阅卷老师留下深刻印象)。具体说来,同学们可尝试以下方法:
1. 灵活改变句子开头
在通常情况下,英语句子的排列方式为“主语+谓语+宾语”,即主语位于句子开头。但若根据情况适当改变句子的开头方式,比如使用倒状语或以状语开头等,会使文章增强表现力。如:
(1) There stands an old temple at the top of the hill.
→ At the top of the hill there stands an old temple.
在小山顶上有一座古庙。
(2) You can do it well only in this way.
→ Only in this way can you do it well.
只有这样你才能把它做好。
(3) A young woman sat by the window.
→ By the window sat a young woman.
窗户边坐着一个年轻妇女。
2. 避免重复使用同一词语
为了使表达更生动,更富表现力,同学们在写作时应尽量避免重复使用同一词语来表示同一意思,尤其是一些老生常谈的词语。如有的同学一看到“喜欢”二字,就会立刻想起like,事实上,英语中表示类似意思的词和短语很多,如 love, enjoy, prefer, appreciate, be fond of, care for等。如:
I like reading while my brother likes watching television.
→ I like reading while my brother enjoys watching television.
我喜欢看书,而我的兄弟却喜欢看电视。
3. 合理使用省略句
合理恰当地使用省略句,不仅可以使文章精练、简洁,而且会使文章更具文采和可读性。如:
(1) He may be busy. If he’s busy, I’ll call later. If he is not busy, can I see him now?
→ He may be busy. If so, I’ll call later. If not, can I see him now?
他可能很忙,要是这样,我以后再来拜访。要是不忙,我现在可以见他吗?
(2) If the weather is fine, we’ll go. If it is not fine, we’ll not go.
→ If the weather is fine, we’ll go. If not, not.
如果天气好,我们就去;如果天气不好,我们就不去了。
(3) She could have applied for that job, but she didn’t do so.
→ She could have applied for that job, but she didn’t.
她本可申请这份工作的,但她没有。
4. 适当运用非谓语结构
非谓语结构通常被认为是一种高级结构,适当运用非谓语结构,会给人一种熟练驾驭语言的印象。如:
(1) When he heard the news, they all jumped for joy.
→ Hearing the news, they all jumped for joy.
听了这消息他们都高兴得跳了起来。
(2) As I didn’t know her address, I wasn’t able to get in touch with her.
→ Not knowing her address, I wasn’t able to get in touch with her.
由于不知道她的地址,我没法和她联系。
(3) As he was born into a peasant family, he had only two years of schooling.
→ Born into a peasant family, he had only two years of schooling.
他出生农民家庭,只上过两年学。
5. 结合使用长句与短句
在英语写作中,过多地使用长句或过多地使用短句都不好。正确的做法是,根据实际情况在文章中交替使用长句与短语,使文章显得错落有致,这样不仅使文章在形式上增加美感,而且使文章读起来铿锵有力。如:
At noon we had a picnic lunch in the sunshine. Then we had a short rest. Then we began to play happily. We sang and danced. Some told stories. Some played chess.
→ At noon we had a picnic lunch in the sunshine. After a short rest, we had great fun singing and dancing, telling jokes and playing chess.
中午我们晒着太阳吃野餐。休息一会儿后,我们唱的唱歌,跳的跳舞,还有的讲笑话、下棋,大家玩得很开心。
6. 适当使用短语代替单词。
(1) He has decided to be a teacher when he grows up.
→ He has made up his mind to be a teacher when he grows up.
他已决定长大了当老师。
(2) He doesn't like music.
→ He doesn't care much for music.
他不大喜欢音乐。
(3) He told me that the question was now under discussion.
→ He told me that the question was now being discussed.
他告诉我问题现正正在讨论中。
7. 恰当套用某些固定表达。
(1) He was very tired. He couldn’t walk any farther.
→ He was too tired to walk any farther.
他太累了,不能再往前走了。
(2) The film was very interesting. Both the teachers and the students liked it.
→ The film was so interesting that both the teachers and the students liked it.
这电影很有趣,学生和老师都很喜欢。
(3) Your son is old. He can look after himself now.
→ Your son is old enough to look after himself now.
你的儿子已经长大,可以自己照顾自己了。
8. 尽量使句子带点“洋味”
(1) Don't worry. Be bold and try it, and you'll learn it soon.
→Don't worry. Just go for it, and you'll get it soon.
别担心,大胆试一试,你很快就会学会的。
(2) Thank you for playing with us.
→Thank you for sharing the time with us.
谢谢你陪我玩。
9. 综合使用各类所谓的“高级”结构。
(1) Now everyone knows the news. I think Jim must have let it out.
→ Now everyone knows the news. I think it must have been Jim who has let it out.
现在人人都知道这消息了,我想一定是吉姆把它泄露出去的。
(2) We had to stand there to catch the offender.
→ What we had to do was (to) stand there, trying to catch the offender.
我们所能做的只是站在那儿,设法抓住违章者。
(3) If her pronunciation is not better than her teacher’s, it is at least as good as her teacher’s.
→ Her pronunciation is as good as, if not better than, her teacher’s.
如果她的语音不比她的老师好的话,至少也不会比她老师的差。
10. 适当使用名言警句点缀
在写作时根据实际情况恰当地用上一两句名言警句来点缀文章,不仅使文章显得有深度、有智慧,而且会让文章在评分中上一个“得分档次”。如:
(1) As the proverb says, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Though you fail this time, you needn’t lose heart. As long as you work hard and stick to your dream, you will succeed one day.
(2) There is a proverb goes like this “Life isn’t a bed of roses.” It is ture that it is likely for everyone to meet problems and difficulties in life.
(3) In the modern world, more and more people live alone, which is not so good for our life. It is better for us to make more friends and enjoy friendship. Just as a proverb says, “A near friend is better than a far-dwelling kinsman.”