英語寫作中的七類一致性錯誤

作者：劉  亞（湖南）

來源：《第二課堂（高中版）》，2005年第07期（pp39-41)

一、比較對象不一致

在英語的比較句型中，兩個待比較的對象應具有可比性，這也就是語法上說的比較對象的一致性問題。有的同學在進行英語寫作時，經常忽略這個一致性問題，從而寫出一些不合英語習慣的句子。如：

誤：The population of China is much larger than Japan.

正：The population of China is much larger than that of Japan.

析：the population of China 應與 the population of China比較，而不能與 Japan 比較，即誤句主要錯在比較對象不一致。注意，為避免重復，正句中的the population of China用that of China代替。

誤：The style of the new building is different from the old one.

正：The style of the new building is different from that of the old one.

正：The new building is different from the old one in style.

析：用different表示比較時，也要注意比較對象的一致性。就本題而言，新的 style 應與舊的 style 比，或新的building與舊的 building 比，而不能將兩者混在一起。

二、主謂不一致

在英語中，句子的主語和謂語動詞在人稱和數上必須一致。由于受漢語的影響，許多同學在寫作時經常忽略句子的主謂一致關系，從而造成錯誤。如：

誤：Anyone can borrow the books, and it cost nothing to borrow them.

正：Anyone can borrow the books and it costs nothing to borrow them.

析：第一個分句的時態是一般現在時，故第二個分句中的動詞cost不可能是動詞的過去式，且由于句子主語是it，故謂語動詞應用一般現在時costs，而不能用過去式cost。

誤：He as well as his parents have been to the Great Wall.

正：He as well as his parents has been to the Great Wall.

析：當作主語的名詞或代詞后有as well as, in addition to, including, with, along with, together with, but, except等引導的成分時，謂語動詞的單復數仍由其前的主語決定。再如：My English teacher together with his family is from England.

誤：Not only John but also I are going to Shanghai next week.

正：Not only John but also I am going to Shanghai next week.

析：在由not only…but also…, not just…but…, or, either…or…, neither…nor…連接主語的句子中及在there be句型中，謂語動詞的單復數按就近原則處理，即按與謂語動詞最靠近的那個主語來確定謂語動詞的單復數形式。如：Neither you nor she is a teacher.

三、單復數不一致

名詞有可數和不可數之分，而可數名詞又有單數與復數之區。在英語寫作中，名詞單復數問題也是許多同學經常忽略的一個問題。如：

誤：On the way home I took a lot of picture because since the scenery was so beautiful. I’ll have them developed this afternoon.

正：On the way home I took a lot of pictures because the scenery was so beautiful. I’ll have them developed this afternoon.

析： take picture中的picture為可數名詞，根據下文中的them可知，此處應用復數形式pictures。

誤：He has been working so hard recently that he has got good mark in all his subjects.

正：He has been working so hard recently that he has got good marks in all his subjects.

析：從后面的subjects來看，mark應用復數形式，說的是在各科考試中都取得了好分數。

四、非謂語形式不一致

動詞的非謂語形式一直是英語學習中的一個難點，而動詞非謂語形式的一致性問題更是許多同學經常忽略的一個問題。如：

誤：To know what is good and doing what is right are two different things.

正：To know what is good and to do what is right are two different things.

析：由and 連接的兩部分為并列主語，前一部分用不定式結構，后一部分也應用相同的結構。

誤：Fishing is his favourite hobby, and to collect coins is also his hobby.

正：Fishing is his favourite hobby, and collecting coins is also his hobby.

析：誤句的問題就在于句子不平行(不一致)，因為and前后都為句子，按英語習慣其結構形式應該一致。