常见句子错误（Common Mistakes in Sentence Writing）
每一种语言都有其独特的文化内涵和句法结构。中国学生受汉语思维的影响，在英语表达上会不自觉地把汉语的意思直接用英文表示出来，没有进行有效转换，由此出现错误的表达。常见的句子错误有以下类型。
一、词语方面
（一）名词方面
名词方面的错误主要涉及名词是可数还是不可数，及名词前的冠词问题。
例：
——50 percent of the students wrote essay，with an average frequency of 5 per term.
50%的学生写论文，平均每学期5次。
essay 是可数名词，“50%学生”是句子的主语，因此essay要加s，表示复数。
——I can get a lot of informations online.
我可以从网上获取很多信息。
information是不可数名词，不能加s。
（二）动词方面
在一个简单句里出现两个动词。
例：
——I like sing after work.
工作后我喜欢唱歌。
在这个句子里，“like”和“sing”都是动词，应改为“I like singing after work.”。
——There are several factors contribute to this phenomenon.
这是导致这种现象的几个因素。
在“there be”句型里出现了“are”和”contribute”，应改为“There are several factors contributing to this phenomenon.”。
（三）冠词方面
英语冠词的用法很复杂，特别是定冠词的使用。
例：
——The China Museum of Science and Technology is precisely one of such museums.
中国科技馆正是这样的博物馆！
定冠词不能加在国家名、省市名开头的中文单位名称前，本句可改为“China Science and Technology Museum is precisely one such museum.”。
例：
——She can play piano.
她会弹钢琴。
在表示乐器名词前要加冠词，本句应改为“She can play the piano.”。
（四）形容词方面
例：
——The price of this coat is too expensive.
大衣的价格太贵。
英语中价格只能用high/low修饰，所以要把expensive改成high。
——She is not used to thick tea.
她不习惯喝浓茶。
浓茶的英文表述为strong tea。
（五）数词方面
这主要是序数词、分数、倍数的表达法上的问题。
例：
——You can choose a toy of two as a birthday present.
改为：You can choose a toy of the two as a birthday present.
你可以在这两个玩具中选一个作为生日礼物。of +the+基数词，表示“范围”。
——In this workshop，the output of July was 3.5 times those of January.
改为：In this workshop，the output of July was 3.5 times that of January.
在这个车间里，7月份的产量是1月份的3.5倍。“that”指代“the output”。
（六）介词方面
例：
——The teacher entered to the classroom with a book in her hand.
改为：The teacher entered the classroom with a book in her hand.
——The oil spill is responsible to the killing of thousands of birds.
改为：The oil spill is responsible for the killing of thousands of birds.
石油泄漏导致数千只鸟类死亡。to应改为for。
（七）连词方面
例：
——For It is so quiet，the kids must have been in bed.
改为：The kids must have been in bed，for it is so quiet.
孩子们一定都睡了，因为很安静。“for” 表示“原因”，通常不居句首。
——Let’s move that stone，and there may be an accident.
改为：Let’s move that stone，or there may be an accident.
我们把那块石头挪开，否则可能会出事故。
（八）词语重复
例：
——In my opinion，I believe that you can finish it.
我认为你会完成。In my opinion和I believe意思重复，删掉一个。
——People try to find a solution to solve the problem.
人们试图找到解决问题的方法。solution 和 solve意思重复。
Exercise
1.Identify one mistake in the underlined sentence and correct it.
We are thrilled to master Go and thus achieved one of the grand challenges of AI.（1） However，the most significant aspect of all this for us is that AlphaGo isn’t just an “expert” system built with hand-craft rules；（2） instead it uses general machine learning techniques to figure out of itself how to win at Go.（3） While games are the perfect platform for developing and testing AI algorithms quickly and efficiently，ultimately we want to apply these techniques to important truth-world problems.（4） Although the methods we’ve used are general-purpose，（5）our hope is that one day they could be extended to help us fix some of society’s toughest and most pressing problems，（6）from climate modeling to simple disease analysis.（7）We believe these techniques can accelerate scientific research.Scientists working alongside AI systems that can home in on areas of research are very likely to be a fruit.（8） The same techniques could even make a way forward that might point the human expert to a breakthrough.（9）We’re hope to see what we can use this technology to tackle next！（10）
2.Complete the passage with the words in brackets in the correct form.
Paper-cutting is a （1） _____ （tradition） Chinese folk art.In ancient China，paper-cuts made of red paper （2） _____ （feature） various auspicious designs were used on important festivals such as the Chinese New Year，the Dragon Boat Festival，the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Winter Solstice，as well as for weddings，childbirth and birthday parties.The paper-cuts were （3）_____ （hang） on walls，doors and windows，or （4）_____ （paste） on dowries，betrothal gifts and birthday presents to add to the happy atmosphere.The earliest paper-cut （5）_____ （preserve） till today in China is an artifact made in the Northern Dynasties（386-581） （6）_____ （discover） in Xinjiang.In the Han（206BC～AD220）and Tang（618-907） dynasties，there was a fashion among common women to wear pieces of gold and silver foils and colorful fabrics （7） _____ （cut） out in the shapes of flowers and birds on their temples as （8） _____-_____ （ornament）.Later，as this fashion developed into a folk custom，during festivals people would cut （9）_____ （color） paper into various designs of plants，animals or fictional characters and paste them on windows （called “window flowers”） or lintels （called “door labels） for （10）_____ （decorate），or simply use them as gift ornaments or embroidery samples.
3.Select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.
Oxford University once famously claimed to （1） _____ by Alfred the Great in the 9th Century，but in fact，the University as we know it today began to take （2） _____ in the 12th Century when English Scholars were exiled from Paris University and began to congregate at Oxford’s Abbeys and Priories，（3） _____ were by then already established centers of learning.
Today，39 independent，（4） _____ colleges are related to the University in a type of federal system.（5） _____ is governed by a Head of House and a number of Fellows，who are academics specializing in a wide variety of disciplines，most （6） _____ also hold University posts.
Across （7） _____ the Arts and the Sciences，Oxford research （8） _____ ranks top both nationally and internationally.As well as being in the forefront of scientific，medical and technological achievement，the University has strong links with research institutions and industrial concerns both in the United Kingdom and overseas.The University’s income from externally （9） _____ research grants and contracts in 1996-7 totaled over £107 million.The University’s great age also allows its （10） _____ staff and research students to draw on a heritage of magnificent library and museum collections.
have been founded，be founded，shape，form，place，whose，which，that，self-governing，self-governed，each，every，all，of whom，of that，both，consistently，always，fund，funded，teaching，taught
二、句子方面
（一）残缺句（Sentence Fragments）：句子不完整，不能独立成句
例：
——People who sleep in the fetal position tend towards worry and anxiety.To be shy and sensitive.
改为：People who sleep in the fetal position tend towards worry and anxiety.They are often shy and sensitive.
像胎儿一样睡觉的人容易担心和焦虑。他们通常也很害羞而敏感。
——WHO officials said another outbreak of SARS could not be ruled out.To develop a vaccine even more urgent.
改为：WHO officials said another outbreak of SARS could not be ruled out.Development of a vaccine became even more urgent.
世卫组织官员表示，不排除SARS再次爆发的可能性。开发疫苗变得更加紧迫。
——Having finished a lot of homework.Mary went out to swim.
改为：Having finished her homework，Mary went out to swim.
完成了家庭作业后，玛丽出去游泳了。
——Whether she will be able to come or not.
改为：I am not sure whether she will be able to come or not.
我不确定她能否来。
——He’s been working in a bank.Since leaving school.
改为：He’s been working in a bank since leaving school.
——To inform your reader.You could explain the effects of shouting at home to teenagers.
改为：To inform your reader，you could explain the effects of shouting at home to teenagers.
为了提醒读者，你可以向青少年解释在家大喊大叫的影响。
——Many factors are important.For example class，gender，age and ethnicity.
改为：Many factors are important，for example class，gender，age and ethnicity.
许多因素都很重要，如阶级、性别、年龄及民族。
——I did it.Because he told me to.
改为：I did it because he told me to.
是他吩咐我才做的。
——Organizations bind a community together.Such as schools and clubs.
改为：Organizations such as schools and clubs bind a community together.
学校和俱乐部等组织将社区联系在一起。
从以上例子可知，残缺句的修改需要从意思上作判断，然后补全残缺的主语，或者改变标点符号等。
（二）粘连句（Run-on Sentences）：两个或更多的句子混合交织在一起，使得句子的意思含混不清
例：
——Tom’s very good at science his brother is absolutely hopeless.
改为：While Tom’s very good at science，his brother is absolutely hopeless.
或：Tom’s very good at science.His brother is absolutely hopeless.
或：Tom’s very good at science，but his brother is absolutely hopeless.
汤姆很擅长理科，而他的兄弟绝对是不可救药。
——David put a match to the papers the pile burst into flames.
改为：David put a match to the papers；the pile burst into flames.
或：David put a match to the papers，and the pile burst into flames.
或：David having put a match to the papers，the pile burst into flames.
或：David having put a match to the papers；then the pile burst into flames.
大卫把一根火柴放在纸上，那堆纸突然燃烧起来。
——The sun heats the earth it is very important to us.
改为：The sun heats the earth，which is very important to us.
或：The sun heats the earth and it is very important to us.
或：The sun heats the earth；it is very important to us.
太阳使地球暖起来，这对我们人类很重要。
从以上例子可知，粘连句的修改只要根据句子意思，用标点符号或者关联词把它们分开即可，以此表示它们的逻辑关系。
Exercise
Correct the sentence fragments and run-on sentences in the following in different ways.
1.I am reading she is watching TV.
2.Mary’s apartment is on the second floor it consists of three bedrooms.
3.During the past five years musical artists like Sheryl Crow，Alanis Morisette have solidified a place for women’s music on the top ten charts.
4.Adolescence is the period of your life.In which you develop from being a child into being an adult.
5.We have had to raise our prices.Because of rising costs.
6.Communications are the systems and processes.Being used to communicate or broadcast information，especially by means of electricity or radio waves.
7.The coast road is closed.Due to bad weather.
8.When I get home.I like to collapse on the sofa and listen to music.
9.You have to type in commands.Such as ’help’ and ’print’.
10.Foreign students of Tsinghua University sent their best wishes for the university’s 111th anniversary.Which falls on April 24.
11.When children are regarded as vessels to be filled with facts creativity does not prosper nor does it when teachers’ sole objective is coaching children towards exams.
12.As an integral part of learning it brings about positive changes making people develop and grow.However，it may do a lot of harm.
13.The telegraph the telephone and radio were the obvious predecessors of the Internet iPodsand mobile phones.
14.Most of us have spent some time drawing before but at some point most of us stop drawing.
15.The problem comes.When everyone is using a navigation app.
（三）修饰语的错误使用（Faulty Modifiers）
修饰语的错误使用主要体现在形容词、副词、介词词组、状语从句、限制词等位置放错（即错位）。造成这种现象的原因是没有搞清词性以及英语的表达方法。
例：
——The pupils in the classroom sat straightly.
改为：The pupils in the classroom sat straight.
教室里的学生端坐着。
——If the sauce seems too sweetly，add a dash of red wine vinegar.
改为：If the sauce seems too sweet，add a dash of red wine vinegar.
如果酱汁太甜的话，可以加少许红酒醋。
——I like fastly music.
改为：I like fast music.
我喜欢节奏快的音乐。
以-ly结尾的副词确实有一些，但并不是所有以-ly结尾的词都是副词。如这些词是形容词：friendly，lovely，lonely，lively，deadly，friendly，unfriendly，likely，unlikely，silly，ugly，daily，womanly，motherly，fatherly，brotherly，sisterly，elderly，kingly，princely，costly等。
例：
——He nodded to me very friendly.
改为：He nodded to me very in a friendly way.
他非常友好地向我点头。
——The old man lives lonely in a small mountain village.
改为：The old man leads a lonely life in a small mountain village.
这位老人在一个小山村过着孤独的生活。
——He walks princely.
改为：He walks in a princely way.
他举止高雅。
——The world’s total grain harvest over the years has risen steadily.
改为：The world’s total grain harvest has risen steadily over the years.
多年来，世界粮食总产量稳步上升。
——People living in the same area should be considered a group to create a comfortable living environment for the whole community under an obligation.
改为：People living in the same area should be considered a group under an obligation to create a comfortable living environment for the whole community.
居住在同一地区的人应被视为一个群体，有义务为整个社区创造舒适的生活环境。
——The house is to be fitted up with modern comforts and conveniences he bought yesterday.
改为：The house he bought yesterday is to be fitted up with modern comforts and conveniences.
他昨天买的房子要配备舒适、便利的现代化设施。
——Please give the book to the boy with the beautiful cover.
改为：Please give the boy the book with the beautiful cover.
请把封面漂亮的书给那个男孩。
——The waiter served a dinner roll to the woman that was well buttered.
改为：The waiter served a dinner roll that was well buttered to the woman.
侍者端上了一个涂满黄油的晚餐卷。
——They saw a fence behind the house made of barbed wire.
改为：They saw a fence made of barbed wire behind the house.
他们看到房子后面有一道铁丝网栅栏。
修饰语错位的改正方法是把修饰语尽量放在它所修饰的词跟前；短语在句子的前面，一般修饰句子的主语。
Exercise
Identify the faulty modifiers in the following sentences and correct them.
1.The book is to be finished soon he bought yesterday.
2.The house needs repairing，where he lives.
3.Lying in the gutter，we saw a dead rat.
4.I saw an ant with glasses.
5.John took a picture of the lake with Lily’s camera.
6.I only have five dollars.
7.Father brought a cold tin of beer back home yesterday.
8.Some people are diagnosed with a heart attack at birth.
9.We found a campground that afternoon that had a vacancy.
10.He said yesterday morning the dance performance was a success.
11.I nearly climbed to the top of the mountain yesterday.
12.Analyze the “only” in different sentences and figure out its meaning.
——Just John was picked to host the program.
——John was just picked to host the program.
——John was picked to host just the program.
（四）悬垂修饰语（Dangling Modifiers）
悬垂修饰语指的是短语和从句的逻辑主语与主句的主语不一致。主要表现在垂悬分词、悬垂不定式、悬垂动名词和悬垂省略从句上。
例：
——Having finished his homework，his parents urged him to start playing the piano.
改为：After he had finished his homework，his parents urged him to start playing the piano.
他做完作业后，父母劝他开始弹钢琴。
——After reading many reference books，the paper is easy to write.
改为：After reading many reference books，I found that the paper is easy to write.
在阅读了许多参考书之后，我发现这篇论文很容易写。
——To impress the listeners，a good preparation is necessary.
改为：For you to impress the listeners，a good preparation is necessary.
为了给听众留下深刻印象，你必须做好充分的准备。
——To succeed in the national exam，hard work is necessary.
改为：For you to succeed in the national exam，hard work is necessary.
你要想在全国考试中取得成功，努力学习是必要的。
——While having dinner with my parents，the phone rang.
改为：While I was having dinner with my parents，the phone rang.
当我和父母吃饭时，电话响了。
——When driving carelessly，it is easy to have an accident.
改为：When the driver drives carelessly，it is easy to have an accident.
当司机开车走心时，很容易发生事故。
但是，有些分词短语作评注性状语时，不考虑分词的逻辑主谓关系，可将它们视为独立成分或插入语。这样的分词结构有：judging from，putting it another way，taking...as an example，taking...into consideration，generally speaking，speaking of，talking of。
Exercise
Correct the following sentences with the dangling modifiers.
1.Walking in the field，a snake bit Tom in the heel.
2.Sitting in the dentist’s chair，an idea suddenly occurred to me.
3.Being very hot，Tom decided to go to swim.
4.From attending the meeting，the principles of physics were made clear.
5.Wondering where to go，an advertisement caught her eye.
6.To do well in college，good grades are essential.
7.When only several years old，my mother took me to a dancing class.
8.Climbing up the hill，a temple came in sight.
9.At the age of six，my uncle bought my first pet，a goldfish.
10.While watching the football match on TV，the power went out suddenly.