句子不完整(Sentence Fragments)
在口语中,交际双方可借助手势语气上下文等,不完整的句子完全可以被理解。可是书面语就不同了,句子结构不完整会令意思表达不清,这种情况常常发生在主句写完以后,笔者又想加些补充说明时发生。
例1. There are many ways to know the society. For example by TV ,radio ,newspaper and so on 。
剖析:本句后半部分"for example by TV ,radio ,newspaper and so on 。”不是一个完整的句子,仅为一些不连贯的词语,不能独立成句。
改为:There are many ways to know society ,for example ,by TV ,radio ,and newspaper。
悬垂修饰语(Dangling Modifiers)
所谓悬垂修饰语是指句首的短语与后面句子的逻辑关系混乱不清。例如:At the age of ten, my grandfather died. 这句中"at the age of ten"只点出十岁时,但没有说明” 谁”十岁时。按一般推理不可能是my grandfather, 如果我们把这个悬垂修饰语改明确一点,全句就不那么费解了。
改为:When I was ten, my grandfather died。
例1. To do well in college, good grades are essential。
剖析:句中不定式短语 “to do well in college” 的逻辑主语不清楚。
改为:To do well in college, a student needs good grades。