我的写作老师曾大力推荐过我现在所参考和使用的这本写作书,那么就让我们从最简单的开始,共同学习北外前辈们的智慧成果吧:
第一期:完整句和不完整句
一个语法结构完整的句子至少有一个主语和一个谓语动词;如果是及物动词,还得有一个宾语;如果是系动词,则必须有一个表语或补语:
He won.
I owe you.
John is late.
定语和状语虽不是句子中不可缺少的成分,但有助于表达清楚或完整的意思:
He won an easy victory.
I owe you $50.
John is late again.
需要注意的是:一个完整的句子以大写字母开始,以句号结束。写英文时用逗号代替句号、分号、冒号或破折号叫"逗号错",这正是中国学生所要避免的。请比较下列例句:
误:It was raining hard, they could not work in the fields.
正:It was raining hard; they could not work in the fields.
It was raining hard. They could not work in the fields.
It was raining so hard that they could not work in the fields.
They could not work in the fields because it was raining hard.
It was raining hard, so they could not work in the fields.
As it was raining hard, they could not work in the fields.
误:The essay is poorly organized, there is no central idea.
正:The essay is poorly organized; there is no central idea.
The essay is poorly organized: there is no central idea.
本期问题:
1.下面请大家改正这句话,使之成为正确的英语:
The principal of the school may do something to reduce the pupils' homework load, he may, for example, stop assigning homework for Saturday and Sunday.
2.另外请大家按照"主+谓+宾"的结构先写出一句简单句,然后再加入定语和状语使之成为一句较复杂的长句;一共是两句完整句。
答案:
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The principal of the school may do something to reduce the pupil's home workload--he may, for example, stop assigning homework for Saturday and Sunday.