写英文句子时,要有明确的中心点,包括主语的人称、数目以及谓语动词的时态、语态和情态等。如果句子的中心点随便改变或转移的话,句子结构可能陷入模糊状态,使人困惑,也削弱了文章气势。
下面就是些有关句子中心点转移的例子:
⒈随便转移主语和语态,如:
① Cocks were heard crowing as the hikers approached the farm.
在一个短短的复杂句里,原本的主句主语突然变成副词从句的主语“the hikers”,动词语态则以被动形式出现在另一个文句里。这样的转变没有好处,也没有必要。这句话可修改为:
The hikers heard cocks crowing as they approached the farm.
这里两个主语保持中心点,一气呵成,明确多了。
② The tourists stayed at a holiday hotel and much of their time was spent there.
这里的两个并列句的主语从“the tourists”转入“much”,动词则以主动语态变成被动语态;这样做,必要吗?还是改写一下好:
The tourists stayed at a holiday hotel and spent much of their time there.
⒉随便转移人称和数目,如:
③ Everyone will feel happy if you enjoy good life.
④ Kelvin enjoys cigarette smoking, but they make his throat sore.
在③里,人称“everyone”和“you”不协调所以要把“you”改成“he”或“everyone”变成“you”。如果“you”变成“he”,谓语动词“enjoy”要变成“enjoys”以便动词和主语一致:
Everyone will feel happy if he enjoys good life. You will feel happy if you enjoy good life.
在④里,用“they”指“cigarette-smoking”,不符合语法规则,必须把“they make”改为“it makes”人称和数目才配合。不这样改也行,但“they”就要和新主语“cigarettes”。(不是cigarette smoking)搭挡。
⒊随便转移动词时态和情态,如:
⑤ The robber considered himself unlucky, rushed to the door, and trying to escape.
这句子中三个动词的时态要一致,不可以让最后一个突然改变形式,因此“trying”要改为“tried”。
⑥ Hold your gun tightly, take aim, and you can shoot.
这里的三个短句中,两个是祈使句,为什么最后一个突然变成陈述句?非改不可:
Hold your gun tightly, take aim and shoot.
You can hold your gun, take aim and shoot.
⑦ As I have made everything clear to him, I expected that he will let bygones be bygones.
显然的,这里的三个动词的时态都可以是现在式,因此主句中的“expected”要改为“expect”才行。