英语写译Unit 2 Sentence Clarity and Combining.pptVIP

Sentence Clarity and Combining Sentence Clarity Why do we need to be concerned with sentence clarity? To communicate effectively to the reader To make writing persuasive To show credibility and authority as a writer Common clarity problems Subject-predicate disagreement Misplaced modifiers Dangling modifiers Problematic reference Passive voice Subject-Predicate Disagreement The predicate verb of a sentence has to agree with the subject in person, gender and number, e.g.: My friendship with Howard was just in its infancy in the school days, yet it grows thicker as time goes by. Subject-Predicate Disagreement On the following occasions disagreements often occur: When the predicate verb is not directly chained to the subject, as broken by a parenthetical (插入的) phrase or a modifying element, e.g.: The teaching buildings are structured like butterflies, with symmetrical wings and a hollowed middle, which I think was deliberately so designed to allow more light. One of his most admirable strengths are his ability to endure demanding hardships before he finally see the light. Subject-Predicate Disagreement When the number of the subject is not easy to determine, e.g.: My family are all fond of going to the cinema. My family is very large. There is an enormous audience in the hall. The audience were shocked by the scenes of violence in the film. Subject-Predicate Disagreement When the subject is a conjunction of multiple parts, e.g.: John, together with two assistants, is /are repairing the machines. None but his most loyal supporters believes / believe his story. Misplaced Modifiers a word or phrase that causes confusion because it is located within a sentence so far away from the word(s) to which it refers Misplaced Modifiers Consider the different meanings in the following sentences: Misplaced Modifiers Sometimes misplaced modifiers are used for comic effect: The other day I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas Ill never know. --