一、such as与for example的混用
我们知道,在表示举例子的时候,such as与like是完全等同的,如:Wild flowers such as/like orchids and primroses are becoming rare.
但是同学们对于Such as、for example的把握还是不够准确。我们都知道,后者接句子前者接词语表示举例子。于是就有了下面的写法:
There is a similar word in many languages, such as in French and Italian.
这里的such as改为for example为好,因为“in French and Italian”其实是“there is a similar word in French and Italian”的简化,所以要用for example来引出例证。
二、assume及claim使用不够准确
我们知道,think,assume,claim是议论文中常用引出观点的动词。在实际作文中,同学们往往认为几个词的意思是一样的,完全可以代换,所以拿过来就用。甚至还有同学把consider也拿过来与之混用。我们首先还是从定义来看这几个词的不同:
Think: to have opinion or belief about sth.
翻译为“认为”,通常接宾语从句来表达比较确定的观点。
Assume: to think or accept that sth is true but without having proof of it.
翻译为“假设、假定”,是否有事实依据是不确定的。
Claim: to say sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it.
翻译为“声称”,用这个词往往意味着不赞同紧跟其后的观点,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 通常翻译为“有报道称……”。和 it is reported that 的区别在于后者翻译为“据报道”,往往代表着作者赞同报告的内容,
Consider: to think about sth carefully, especially in order to make a decision
翻译为“考虑”,一般不用作引出观点,看个例子:
We are considering buying a new car.
三、介词使用错误
1、普通介词的误用
一般表现为固定搭配错误,如常把provide sb with sth用成provide sb sth; be satisfied with用成be satisfied for等等,虽然这样的错误看似无伤大雅,但在考官眼里就是影响顺畅阅读的,当然会影响最终成绩。解决的办法简单而古老:把常见的固定搭配牢记于心,问题自然就解决了。
2、 “to”作为介词的误用
“to”最常见的用法是以动词不定式符号的形式出现的,所以同学们也已经习惯了“to do”的固定搭配。对于一些如walk to me, to the left等介词to表方向等常见用法一般也不会出现错误。但是对于与动词搭配的介词to就会经常犯错:
如:
More and more students have taken to depend on their parents to make decision for them.
这里的 "take to" means "to begin to do sth as a habit" 其中to为介词,所以后面只能接名词或相当于名词的词,如动名词。所以黑体处应改为depending on。“take to”的另一个常用用法也需要牢记:
He hasn't taken to his new school. (这里 take to 意思是 to start liking sb or sth)