老雅在本專欄之前各期中曾多次說過,雅思寫作在句子方面的要求對各分數段是不同的。句子質量包括三個緯度,即語法正確與否、類型多樣與否、表達地道與否。5分段的作文,句子很多都是語法不正確的(但還能讓人看懂);6分段的作文,句子語法基本都是正確的,但類型不夠多樣,比較簡單或單調;7分段的作文,句子語法基本沒有錯誤,而且類型多樣化;8分段的句子,除了正確、多樣,還要確保地道。從這個意義上說,雅思寫作要達到7分,通過恰當的訓練,在句子層面上是可以實現的,但要達到8分,也就是要地道表達,則只有通過大量閱讀和積累才能實現,非一般短期培訓所能及。本期的專欄中,老雅專門談談如何讓雅思寫作中的句子多樣化起來,也就是在句子層面上實現7分。
句子的多樣性并不簡單等同于句子的復雜性,雖然復雜句型是7分段作文必需的。當我們要表達幾個意思時,我們可以用獨立的單句來表達每一個意思,也可以把這幾個意思寫在同一個句子里,在后一種情況下我們就需要寫復雜句。我們首先要確定哪一個意思是最主要的,把它作為主干句子來表達,然后把次要的意思放置在從句中。比如:
This policy would affect the cost of public transport. Some people need to travel on roads every day. This policy would be very unpopular with them.
在這里,我們有三個意思需要表達:(1)這項政策會影響到公共交通的成本;(2)有些人需要每天乘坐公共交通;(3)因此,這項政策對他們來說是不受歡迎的。如果,我們以“這項政策不受他們歡迎”為主句,那么“這項政策會影響到公共交通的成本”就可以安排成原因狀語從句,而“有些人需要每天乘坐公共交通”則可以安排為定語從句來修飾“他們”。于是,上面三個句子就可合并為:
As it would affect the cost of public transport, this policy would be very unpopular with those who need to travel on roads every day.
以下介紹幾個常見且容易模仿的復雜句型。
1. It is believed (said, reported, well-known, argued, assumed…) that…
It is believed by many that universities should concentrate on teaching students the subjects that will be useful for their future careers.
It is assumed that computers and the Internet are more important to a childs education than going to school.
It is commonly agreed that too much food and lack of exercise leads to obesity.
2. “which” 引導的非限定性定語從句
They have gained much experience, which will be useful in their future work.
Much progress has been made, which is a blessing for human race.
3. What引導的主語從句
What really matters is not just how serious the environmental problems have become, but how determined we are to solve them.
What role a teacher should play depends to a large extent on what kind of students he has.
4. While引導的轉折和讓步從句
While advertising does bring us useful information about new products and services, it also creates many problems.
Some people believe computer games have negative effects on society and should be banned, while other people say these are just harmless relaxations.
如前所述,句子的多樣性不能僅由復雜句來實現,事實上,如果學生作文段落里充滿了復雜句,這是很有風險的,一方面復雜句用得越多,學生犯錯的幾率就越大;另一方面復雜句使用不當的話,容易淹沒學生想表達的主要意思,從而造成行文不連貫。老雅的經驗表明,一篇250字左右的雅思范文,復雜句有5句左右即可。句子的多樣性,還可通過其他手段來實現。以下介紹實現句子多樣性的幾種常見方法。
1. 狀語提前
Without the natural talent, continuous training would be neither attractive nor productive.
To do this, we need to improve the choice of public transport services available to travellers.
Interestingly, some people hold that we should not use animals as source of food and clothing.
2. 插入語
Unlike western media, the newspapers in China usually report the positive developments, rather than the problems and emergencies, of the society.
Sport stars and pop stars, for instance, are soon replaced by the next younger, more energetic generation.
Spending too much time planning for future, as is argued by many people, is a total waste of time.
3. 用分詞短語/介詞短語
Many people find their rewards unfair, especially when comparing their salaries with those of top surgeons or research scientists.
Giving children pocket money is a great way of teaching them the value of money and the benefits of saving.
In addition to dealing with stress, exercise is a way to lose weight and improve your mental and physical health.
4. 倒裝句
Not only are parents responsible for their own actions, they are also responsible for their childrens behaviour.
Strange as it may seem, parents attention sometimes hinders students academic development.
5. 強調句
It is only those who reach the very top of their profession who can get these huge salaries.
It is the young people who keep the world going, but it is the old people who keep the young people going.
6. 被動語態(tài)
Many people suggest that traditions be respected and other people suggest they be abandoned.
Importation of cars from foreign countries should be discouraged.
由于語言習慣,中國學生在寫作中喜歡表達條件、轉折和原因,而他們常用的連接詞就是if、although、because,有時候連續(xù)使用,同一篇文章中會出現多次,給人造成句式單調的感覺。老雅建議,如果寫作中有沖動想使用if、although、because,可以考慮更換句型,使句子呈現多樣性。
1. if (如果)沖動
If the government makes greater efforts, the pollution problem can be brought under control.
? With greater efforts made by the government, the pollution problem can be brought under control.
?Greater efforts made by the government can bring the pollution problem under control.
If people were allowed to carry guns, the world would become more dangerous.
?Were people allowed to carry guns, the world would become more dangerous. (高分)
?The permission to carry guns would render the world more dangerous.
If the female students and male students are encouraged to learn different subjects in school, the inequality between them will become intensified.
?Encouraged to learn different subjects in school, the female students and male students will become wider apart from each other. (高分)
?Learning different subjects in school will intensify the inequality between male students and female students.
2. though (雖然,盡管)沖動
Though children should be made to obey the rules, they should also be given enough freedom to make their own choices.
?While children should be made to obey the rules, they…
?Despite that children should be made to obey the rules, they…
?Children should be made to obey the rules, yet they should also…
Though the cheaper air travel has brought about many benefits, it has also posed a great threat to the resources and environment.
?For all the benefits brought about the the cheaper air travel, it has also posed…(高分)
Though it is a hard work, we should set about doing it immediately.
?Hard as the job is, we should set about doing it immediately.
3. because (因為)沖動
Because of the Internet, we can gain access to large amount of information in a blink of an eye.
? Thanks to the Internet, we can gain access to…
? The Internet enables us to gain access to…
? The Internet makes it possible for us to gain access to…
We must protect the wild animals, because many of them are on the verge of extinction.
? We must protect the wild animals, for many of them are on the verge of extinction.
? As many of the wild animals are on the verge of extinction, we must protect them.
? We must protect the wild animals, many of whom are on the verge of extinction.
[與老雅繼續(xù)交流,請加微信公眾號ieltswriting4u(唐老雅英語寫作工作室)]
1唐偉勝,博士生導師,江西師范大學首席教授,英美文學學者。