英语写作中出现的想当然错误

有的同学在写作时，常将一些似是而非的东西想当然乱用，不注意语言的准确性和地道性。

1. 我说两个小时的时候，那是包括了吃饭的时间。

误：When I say two hours, which includes the time for eating.

正：When I say two hours, that includes the time for eating.

析：许多同学往往想当然地认为在逗号后面总是用 which 引导定语从句，而不用 that。其实，本句中的 that includes the time for eating 不是定语从句，而是主句(that 用作主句主语)，其前的 when I say two hours 为状语从句。

2. 你应该更注意练习你的英语口语。

误：You should pay more attention to practise your spoken English.

正：You should pay more attention to practising your spoken English.

析：有的同学们认为to后总是接动词原形，构成不定式。其实，此句中的to不是不定式符号，而是介词，所以其后的动词要用原形。

3. 几年前，对大多数中国人来说，在家里有一台电脑的想法还是不大现实的。

误：Just a few years ago, the idea to have a computer in one's home seemed very difficult for most Chinese.

正：Just a few years ago, the idea of having a computer in one's home seemed very difficult for most Chinese.

析：许多同学认为表示做某事就用动词不定式，这要根据具体情况来定。idea后面要用of短语说明idea的内容。

4. 尽管他只有十六岁，但是他已经学会用英语和外国人交谈了。

误：Although he is a boy of sixteen, but he has learned to talk with the foreigners in English.

正：Although he is a boy of sixteen, he has learned to talk with the foreigners in English.

正：He is a boy of sixteen, but he has learned to talk with the foreigners in English.

析：许多同学往往认为“虽然…但是”是关联词组。但although是从属连词，而but为并列连词，故不能同时出现在同一句中。类似的还有because和so，也不能连用。

5. 他迟到的原因是因为他没赶上早班车。

误：The reason why he was late is because he didn’t catch the early bus.

正：The reason why he was late is that he didn’t catch the early bus.

析：许多同学认为“因为”表原因就用because，但在此句The reason why…is that中that引导表语从句，无实际意义。

6. 他说他将尽最大努力学好英语。

误：He said he would do what he could learn English well.

正：He said he would do what he could to learn English well.

正：He said he would do / try his best to learn English well.

析：情态动词后只能跟动词原形。于是有的同学就出现了误句。实际上，此句中“学好英语”是“尽最大努力”的目的状语，应该用不定式。