作為修改技巧系列的第一篇,我們要教你如何加強自己的寫作力道。接下來幾篇則會介紹最常在台灣作者寫作中見到的寫作問題,也就是冗詞。
Tip # 1: 避免動詞名詞化
先看看以下範例:
- We should take into consideration several factors.
- He must make a decision about what to do.
- They gave us information about the new research program.
你覺得上面的句子有什麼問題嗎?這些句子在文法上來說完全正確,但是因為使用了名詞化的動詞而導致力度下降。也就是不直接使用有力的動詞而選用這些動詞的名詞型。
- We should take into consideration several factors. [7個字]
- He must make a decision about what to do. [9個字]
- They gave us information about the new research program. [9個字]
紅色部分就是動詞名詞化,我們可以將這部分直接用一個動詞替換。這樣就可以將字數縮減並維持在限制內,寫作時注意文法結構一定能夠省事不少 。
- We should consider several factors. [5個字]
- He must decide about what to do. [7個字]
- They informed us about the new research program. [8個字]
動詞名詞化還有另一個缺點就是容易寫出被動語態結構。不多說,一起看看以下範例吧:
× The analysis of how X-factor impacts B gene expression was conducted. [11個字]
√ We analyzed X-factor’s impact on B gene expression. [8個字]
利用把名詞化轉成一個動詞,輕輕鬆鬆把句子由被動轉成主動語態並成功縮減字數。
如果你檢視過常見的動詞名詞化,可以發現一個模式。動詞使用像是”make”和”take,” 動名詞(verb+ing), 或名詞由 -tion, -sion, -ment, -ence, 和 -ance 結尾的,很高機率都有一個相對應的動詞, 所以當你在修改英文時,利用尋找功能找出這些結尾和動詞後修正就好囉!
什麼時候該修改動詞名詞化?
有時候動詞名詞化的確是必須或無法避免的,但目前來看我們是過度使用了。下方我們列出常見的應修正名詞化的情況:
- 無意義動詞 + 動詞名詞形:刪除無意義的,將動詞名詞形轉換為主要動詞。
- Joe will conduct research on the impact of the recent drought on local wildlife. → Joe will research the recent drought’s impact on local wildlife.
- The board will make a decision next week about whether to accept you next week. → The board will decide next week whether to accept you.
- 當動詞名詞形是被動語態結構的主詞時:找出真正的主詞,並將動詞名詞形轉換為該主題的動詞。
- The approval of the plan was given by the committee yesterday. → The committee approved the plan yesterday.
- 動詞名詞形兩兩相接: 轉化第一個動詞名詞形為動詞,保留第二個或將其轉化成疑問子句。
- Their interpretation of the implementation of the institute’s program was insightful. → They insightfully interpreted how the institute implemented its program.
- First was their introduction of their analysis of dreams by the trauma patients. → First, they introduced how they analyzed the trauma patients’ dreams.
- 當主詞中的動詞名詞形與謂詞的動詞名詞形時: 將兩個動詞名詞形轉成動詞,考量兩者的關係並加上合理的連接詞(because, when, if, although, even though, despite, etc.)。.
- Her understanding of the situation was evidenced by the quitting of her job. → She understood the situation … she quit her job → When she quit her job, she showed she understood the situation.
現在一起來練習今天所學習到的東西吧!看完之後往下就可以看到解答嚕!
初階
- We made an agreement not to buy the house.
- They reached the conclusion that we should run a new cohort study.
- Our review of the test results will begin tomorrow.
進階
- The discovery of a new planet by the Frankfurt Observatory excited the scientific community.
- The failure of the staff to organize the festival properly was a disappointment to us.
- The undertaking of building the new company was complicated by their lack of experience.
解答:
- We agreed to not buy the house.
- They concluded that we should run a new cohort study.
- Starting tomorrow, we will review the test results.
- The Frankfurt Observatory discovered a new planet, which excited the scientific community.
- When the staff failed to organize the festival properly, they disappointed us.
- They lacked experience, which complicated how they built the new company.
需要英文編修,就找Wordvice。
| 寫作資源 | 論文英文編修 | 學術論文翻譯 | 課堂作業英修 | 服務價格 | 常見問題 |