英語論文寫作技巧-1

覺得有用的話,歡迎一起討論相互學習~Follow Me

參考文獻
http://muchong.com/html/200906/1393920.html

主語和謂語的單數和複數要一致

• 英語中名詞有它的單數和複數形式，動詞也有它的單數和複數形式 , 二者要一致 . 單數主語 ( subject) 名詞要用動詞 (verb) 的單數 (singular) 形式 , 複數主語名詞要用動詞的複數 (plural) 形式 . 我們寫中文的不太習慣英語的這種寫法 , 很難做到不假思索地配對 , 需要特別留心才能不出錯誤， 特別是當主語名詞和動詞被分開時 . 試看下面的例句 .

  • A high percentage of peptides(肽) that are made of amino acids(氨基酸) are present in the sample.
  • A high percentage 才是真正的主語， 而不是鄰近的 amino acids, 所以應該用 單數形式
  • 宜改為 : A high percentage of peptides that are made of amino acids is present in the sample.

• 讓事情更復雜的是英語名詞被分為不同的種類， 其中的一類叫集合名詞 . 它既可以當單數用詞也可以當複數用 . 集合名詞當整體來講時是單數，每個成員作為個體時用複數.

  • The number of mice(老鼠) in the experiment was increased.
  • A number of mice(老鼠) have died.
  • All of the samples were analyzed.
  • All of the safety procedures(程式) was strictly followed.

• 代詞 none 既可以是單數也可以是複數.當none後面的詞是單數時,用單數動詞.當none後面的詞是複數時.用複數動詞.

  • None of the information was useful.
  • None of the animals were starved.

• 描寫數量，重量，體積，時間等的詞用單數，但如果是 分次 新增或減少時用複數. 在這個意義上同集合名詞類似.

  • 1.5 ml was added.
  • 10 g was added .
  • 6 hours was the required incubation time.
  • 5 g were added stepwise. 強調分批次加入材料

• 簡寫的數量單位， 如 mg, ml, s 等， 單數和複數的寫法是一樣的 , 如 1mg, 5 mg. 一些詞如 series(系列), type(類別), portion(部分), class(類別), 要用單數形式.

  • A series of derivatives of penicillin(青黴素的衍生物) was prepared. (series)
  • A large portion(一部分) of the reports is focused on how to deal with the increased cost(成本的增加). (portion)
  • Data(資料), criteria(標準), phenomena(現象), media(媒體) 是複數形式， 他們的單數形式分別是 datum, criterion, phenomenon, medium.

修飾語同主語名詞關係上要一致

• 當用 1 ) 動名詞 (gerund) ，2) 分詞短句 (participle) ，3) 不定式短句 (infinitive) 作修飾語時，修飾語中的動詞要同主句中的主語名詞關係上要一致 .z這種情況很多出現在修飾句使用分詞或動名詞做主語，而主句使用被動語態的時候
  • 科技雜誌論文中有這種語法錯誤的情況較多 . 嚴格來講這只是種語法錯誤， 一般不影響對句子 的內容的理解， 所以很多作者不太注意 . 編輯和閱稿人有時也沒有嚴格要求改正 . 比如下面就是 Nature 雜誌 2006 年第 439 卷中的一個例子 .
  • Using the enhancer GAL4/UAS expression system, short-term memory traces of aversive and appetitive olfactory conditioning have been assigned to output synapses of subsets of intrinsic neurons of the mushroom bodies.使用增強子GAL4 / UAS表達系統，已經分配了厭惡和食慾嗅覺調節的短期記憶痕跡來輸出蘑菇體的內在神經元的子集的突觸。 分詞中使用的是we或I作為主語，但是後面是短期記憶痕跡作為主語。
• (1)動名詞
  • After finishing the purification, the activity of the isolated compound was then studied.
    We or I 是動名詞 finishing 形式上的主語， 同主句的主語 activity 不一致 .
    宜改為 : After purification was finished, the activity of the isolated compound was then studied. (將After前的分句加上謂語)
    或 : After finishing the purification, we studied the activity of the isolated compound.(將後面句子的主語保持和分句一致)
  • Treated with the new drug, the blood cholesterol levels of participants were lowered by an average of 30%
    宜改為 : Treated with the new drug, participants showed an average of 30% decrease in their blood cholesterol levels.
• (2) 分詞短語
  • The iron concentration was determined using the Fenton reaction method.
    The iron concentration 同 using the Fenton reaction method 關係上不一致 .
    宜改為 : The iron concentration was determined by the Fenton reaction method. 被Fenton reaction method確定
    或 : We determined the iron concentration using the Fenton reaction method. 我們使用Fenton reaction method確定
  • When measuring the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide, air samples from a remote place, such as an island, is preferred.
    when分句中的主語為人we或I,但是後面的句子是用被動語態，air samples才是主語
    宜改為 : When the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide is measured, air samples from a remote place, such as an island, is preferred.
• (3) 不定式短句
  • To further investigate the potential role of biking in causing infertility, an expanded population of biking athletes was surveyed.
    不定式短語的形式主語是 we or I ， 同主句主語 population 不一致 .
    宜改為 : To further investigate the potential role of biking in causing infertility, we surveyed an expanded population of biking athletes.
  • To confirm the diagnosis, blood test was ordered.
    宜改為 : To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor ordered blood test.

主語和主語的行動(謂語)在邏輯上要一致

• 由於一些中文和英文的表達方式不同， 把中文直接翻譯成相應的英文會不同 . 一個經常被引用的語句是 “price is cheap ”. 中文可以說價格便宜 , 但英文只能說價格高或低 . 物品可以說 cheap or expensive. 用中文的表達方式來寫英文 , 會出現主語和主語的行動在邏輯上不一致 . 在寫一個句子時要注意行動的真正主語名詞是什麼.下面是一些例子 .
  • The highest antibiotic production was obtained at 48 h.
    不是 production 而是 production yield.
    宜改為 : The highest antibiotic production yield was obtained at 48 h. (在48小時獲得最高的抗生素產量)
  • The scavenging activity for hydroxyl radicals was based on Fenton reaction. (羥基自由基的清除活性基於芬頓反應)
    不是 activity 而是 assay of activity
    宜改為 : The assay of scavenging activity for hydroxyl radicals was based on Fenton reaction. (羥基自由基清除活性的測定基於芬頓反應)
  • The pharmacological compounds of ginseng were identified.(鑑定了人蔘的藥理化合物)
    藥物活性化合物應該是 pharmacologically active compounds.
    宜改為 : The pharmacologically active compounds of ginseng were identified.(鑑定了人蔘的藥物活性化合物)

代名詞和其代理的先行詞要一致

• 代名詞和其代理的先行詞要在人稱 ,單數或複數,和性別上一致.一些常見的代詞是: he, his (陽性單數); she, her (陰性單數); it, its (單數); they, their, these, those (複數); that, this (單數). 比如下面的例句中 , compounds 和 their 一致 , protein 和 it 一 致 .
  • Many related compounds were synthesized and their antivirus activities were studied.
    合成了許多相關化合物，並研究了它們的抗病毒活性。
    Growth hormone is a protein. It promotes human body growth.
    生長激素是一種蛋白質。 它促進人體生長。
  • 下面的例句中,the 應該用 their 取代 .
    The potential antioxidant capacity of compound A and compound B could be deduced from the protective effects against oxidative stresses.
    化合物A和化合物B的潛在抗氧化能力可以從對氧化應激的保護作用中推斷出來。
    宜改為 : The potential antioxidant capacity of compound A and compound B could be deduced from their protective effects against oxidative stresses.
• 用代名詞時 除了要保持一致外,還要避免代理不清的情況出現,以免不清楚它們到底指什麼而引起誤解． 通常是前句有and的情況以致於不知道後句的代名詞的含義
  • The crude sample was dissolved in water and extracted with organic solvent. It was then evaporated to yield the product.
    It 指 organic layer 還是指 water layer? 不明確，最好不用 it.
    宜改為： The crude sample was dissolved in water and extracted with organic solvent. The organic layer was then evaporated to yield the product.
  • During meal hormones are released after which blood flow increases in the stomach.
    在用餐期間，釋放激素，之後胃中的血流增加。
    Which 既可以代表 meal 也可以代表 hormones, 容易產生誤解 .
    宜改為： During meal hormones are released. After their release stomach blood flow increases.

位置的強調作用

• 在英語寫作中，若要強調某件事情，就把它放在句子的前面 .中文寫作中 ,有關句子的條件 , 時間等的修飾句都是放在前面， 而主句總是放在後面 . 而英文中即可以把條件或修飾句放在前面，也可以放在後面.放在前面就表示你要強調修飾句的條件 . 比如:
  • Before the hurricane arrived, most of the people have moved out.
  • Most of the people have moved out before the hurricane arrived.
• 在英語中兩種位置關係都可以 . 前者強調在 hurricane 來之前， 後者強調 moved out . 而在中文中，只有一種說法， 反過來說 ” 大多數人都離開了，在hurricane來之前 ” 就不對了. 按中文的位置關係直譯成英文, 往往會不確切. 同樣按英文的位置關係直譯成中文也是怪怪的
  • 我上小學的孩子回家來喊 “我要吃冰激凌今天, 我沒吃好長時間了”, 就是英文 “I want ice cream today. I have not eaten it for a long time.” 的直接翻譯.
• 科技寫作中，一般還是把主句先寫出來 ，除非你想強調修飾的是條件
  • Through scavenging free radicals, antioxidants play an important role in protecting against complex diseases.
    抗氧化劑通過清除自由基在防止複雜疾病方面發揮重要作用。
    宜改為： Antioxidants play an important role in protecting against complex diseases through scavenging free radicals.
  • In microbial fermentation, phosphorus is commonly the major growth-limiting nutrient.
    在微生物發酵中，磷通常是主要的生長限制營養素。
    宜改為： Phosphorus is commonly the major growth-limiting nutrient in microbial fermentation.
• 主動句中事情的執行者 ( 作者 ) 放在前面， 有強調事情的執行者 ( 作者 ) 的意思 , 而不是要研究的事物 . 被動句強調要研究的事物 , 這也是 為什麼科技論文中被動句用得比較多的原因 之一.
  • We studied their effects on cell growth. 強調 We.
    Their effects on cell growth were studied. 強調 Their effects.