英语口语中,动词是许多学生的弱点。口说时因为不习惯,我们忽略动词的变化,还有很多的情境是,我们习惯用be动词,所以所有的句子都便成静态描述,而缺乏动作表情。
例如:
我们的产品是电脑软硬体解决方案。
Our product is computer hardware and software solution.
We provide computer hardware and software solution.
虽然第一句并没有文法上的错误,但若整篇文章或整个对话都是这种单一的“be+名词”句型,英文的表情就变得千篇一律。
另一种常见的情况,最重要的动词位置摆了不重要的动词,句子显得冗赘。
He gave me instructions on how to fix the computer.(他指导我该如何修好电脑。)
→He instructed me how to fix the computer.
在这裡,第一句亦无错误,但若把名词"instruction"转换为"instruct",可以精简句型。
以下为我们所整理的一些重点:
1.把最重要的讯息放在动词
说中文时,我们习惯说“给”,像“给些建议”、“给些指示”。说英文时,我们也常用“give”或 “do',像“give…instructions”、“do negotiation”。现在直接讲重点,把give/do这类意义模糊的字换成有力的动词:
她每天教导他该如何增进英文。
She gives him guidance every day to improve his English.
→She guides him every day to improve his English.
这间公司必须与员工协商。
The company need to do some negotiation with its employees.
→The company needs to negotiate with its employees.
2.把“让”拿掉
中文有很多“让”的用法,使人怎麽样的说法,去掉一些make或let,句子会更到位。
我想让我的英文更好。
I would like to make my English better.
→I would like to better my English.
经理建议降价。
The manager made a proposal to drop the price.
The manager suggested dropping the price in his proposal.
→The manager proposed to drop the price.
“建议”是“suggest”,“提案”是“proposal”。若在提案中提出意见,就用“propose”,别把句型复杂化了!
3.直接把名词动词化
有些字我们用名词惯了,像“impact”、“reference”。这些字也可做、转换为动词,让句子更精简,也强化印象:
这项新科技将冲击零售业。
The retail industry will suffer from the impact of this new technology.
→This new technology will impact the retail industry.
请参考附件。
Please see the attached file for reference.
→Please refer to the attached file.