避免英文句子以文法動詞結尾

避免以動詞結尾

用動詞結尾的子句或句子讀起來頭重腳輕，很不平衡。好的句子結構盡量讓動詞靠近主詞，避免在句尾使用動詞。母語人士認為必須在動詞後面加上名詞片語，例如a swim或副詞，來營造一個感覺比較平衡的句子。

常見錯誤：

The children are swimming.

編修後：

The children are taking a swim.

• 提供您一個常用的技巧，可避免在句尾使用動詞，那就是在子句「scientists originally believed」中，加上「by」來顛倒主詞與動詞的順序，請見以下範例。

常見錯誤：

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet probably contained less ice than scientists had originally believed.

編修後：

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet probably contained less ice than originally believed by scientists.

• 常常簡單的在句尾動詞後面加上一些訊息，就可以讓句子變得平衡。下面這些句子中，您認為如何修改較好呢？

常見錯誤：

Doubling the sampling density can be accomplished.

The parameters for Inmarsat GEO satellite network were used.

A miniaturized planar inverted-F antenna is proposed.

Several experiments were performed.

研究論文的材料與方法章節中，常常包含執行程序的手段以及採取某些方法的理由或目的，請參考編修後的句型例子。

編修後：

Doubling the sampling density can be accomplished by interpolation.

The parameters for Inmarsat GEO satellite network were used, since the effect of call drops is significant when working under a long delay network.

A miniaturized planar inverted-F antenna is proposed for dual-band mobile phone application in the 900- and 1900-MHz bands.

Several experiments were performed to optimize the temperature and the tool pressure.

• 也可以藉由刪減關係子句，避免使用動詞做結尾。

常見錯誤：

Java is now the programming language WHICH developers in North America USE most.

編修後：

Java is now the programming language USED most BY developers in North America.

• 避免句尾或子句末端使用介係詞

在英文口語中，母語人士常常在句尾或片語尾端使用介係詞，但正式書寫英文中，常使用兩個方式來避免這個情況。

常見錯誤：

Each species and genus of plants produces pollen grains that have a distinct shape. These shapes can be used to identify the type of plant that they came from.

編修後：

Each species and genus of plants produces pollen grains that have a distinct shape. These shapes can be used to identify the type of plant from which they came.

• 改變單字

如果子句或句子結尾是包含介係詞的片語動詞，則可以用比較正式的、拉丁文組成的動詞來取代。

常見錯誤：

In wireless networks, signal fading that comes up from multipath propagation is a particularly severe channel impairment that can be easily got around.

編修後：

In wireless networks, signal fading that arises from multipath propagation is a particularly severe channel impairment that can be easily mitigated.

許多最常見的英語動詞可以被更精準的拉丁文組成的動詞取代，這些常見的盎格魯撒克遜動詞（Anglo-Saxon verbs）可以有很多的意思。

• 「Be」搭配不同動詞，或單獨出現，可能有以下意思：

be situated, be located, be placed, be positioned; be outlined, be listed, be described; serve as

• 「Do」單獨出現在句子中，依據不同上下文也可能有以下意思：

perform, implement, execute, complete, conduct, function, operate

• 「Get」這個字也可以有以下意思：

become, acquire, procure, receive, gain, obtain, achieve, attain

• 「Give」放在句中可能有以下用意：

provide, offer, supply, transfer, yield; allow, permit, enable; contribute

• 「Go」放在正式用法中也會有以下意思：

proceed, pass, process, transfer, transmit

• 「Be going to」用來表示未來式，等同於：will
• 「Happen」也等於occur
• 「Have」也有以下廣泛的意思：

possess, include, incorporate, contain, involve, consist of, be composed of, comprise

• 「Have to」表達應該或強制，可能等同以下：

should, must, need to

• 「Make」也是個很好用、廣泛的單字，在正式上下文中可能有以下意思：

produce, generate, create, assemble, build, construct, erect, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, manufacture, mold

• 「Mean」可以具有以下意思：

denote, indicate, imply, suggest, signify

• 「Put」放在前後文中，可能有以下不同意思：

place, attach, insert, apply, connect, join, link, unite; adhere, anchor, secure, implant, imbed

• 介係詞 + which

另一個方法是直接把介係詞挪到關係代名詞which的正前方。

常見錯誤：

A non-falsifiable theory is a hypothesis that no test can be devised for.

編修後：

A non-falsifiable theory is a hypothesis for which no test can be devised.

常見錯誤：

Greenhouse gases could change the weather patterns that most of the world’s population depend on for their day to day survival.

編修後：

Greenhouse gases could change the weather patterns on which most of the world’s population depend for their day to day survival.

• 避免使用片語動詞

多數片語動詞是由少數常見的動詞，例如get、go、come、put、do、take、make和set，和少數副詞或介係詞，例如away、out、off、up和in組成。然而，書面學術風格總是偏好一個單字的拉丁動詞。這是從非正式到正式英文最顯著的改變。

一般動詞片語組：

The aim of this study is to look at the growth dynamics and to find out the microbial populations living in the C140 prototype hydraulic system.

拉丁動詞片語組：

The aim of this study is to examine the growth dynamics and to determine the microbial populations living in the C140 prototype hydraulic system.

一般動詞片語組：ring up

正式動詞組：raise, present

一般動詞片語組：build up

正式動詞組：accumulate

一般動詞片語組：come up with

正式動詞組：devise, invent, develop; produce, supply

一般動詞片語組：do away with

正式動詞組：eliminate, obviate

一般動詞片語組：find out

正式動詞組：determine, develop; detect, observe;

一般動詞片語組：get rid of

正式動詞組：eliminate

一般動詞片語組：go down/up

正式動詞組：decrease, decline, diminish / increase, rise, augment

一般動詞片語組：take care of

正式動詞組：manage, operate

額外相關閱讀推薦：

1. 在研究 (study)與論文 (research paper) 中，應該搭配那些描述性動詞？
2. 哪些句型適用於定義研究論文中的專有名詞？
3. 如何正確使用垂懸與錯置修飾語
4. 學術寫作避免濫用開頭為it is、there is或 there are的句子

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