文国网社区
TheYeti - 2008-9-12 10:22:00
自本年二月以来，得了个怪病 (bilateral upper limb weakness + frequent cramps in my fingers)，到
现在还未复原. 所以打字持久有些困难。只有找些旧作，东一段，西一段的凑合一起 copy and paste, 拿
来在贴一贴。不好可不负责。
Foreword
Since Februay I have been suffering from a mysterious ailment of bilateral upper limb weakness with frequent cramps in my fingers, especially when I am typing. I can't type for long and am not in the mood to do any creative writing. The only thing I can do is to stitch together bits and pieces of my old works and then copy and paste them over here. There is no guarantee they are good or useful.
Let me reiterate that I am neither an English teacher nor an English expert, so you should read what I write with a critical eye.
以下是从以前应点点丁晓钟老师的弟子邀请所写的一部份。 点网页改组后， 不知去了那里。下面页底的
连接是雨巷英语园地的版本。
The following was written for the students of Diandian's Mr.Ting after having help with giving feedback on their practice essays.
============================================================
(Please note: These are not in the same order as they were presented in the original article.)
I. (First, Firstly)(首先), At first (起先); Last, Lastly, At Last
When to use "First, second..." instead of "Firstly, secondly..." is a subject of debate even
among English scholars. That's not what I want to talk about here.
Some people confuse “at last” with “lastly.” “At last” means “finally, I have the chance…” E.g. All evening George was trying to corner Susan to talk to her in private. At 11 p.m., he found the chance at last. = 最初没有机会，但是最后机会来了
At first and firstly have different meanings. At first means something that happened before what comes later. E.g. At first I did not find her attractive, but then, after several dates, I found her interesting. =开始的时候，。。。但是后来。..
Regional variations notwithstanding, in almost all the cases I know of, at first and at last do not mean 首先 and 最后.
Example:
| Chinese | Incorrect | Correct |
| 首先让我多谢你 | At first, let me thank you for... | First, let me thank you for...
or
First of all, let me thank you for...
|
| 最后让我多谢你 | At last, let me thank you for... | Lastly, let me thank you for...
or
Last but not least, let me thank you for...
or
At this time, let me thank you for...
|
首先，我要多谢你: First, I want to thank you.
当初/起先，他不里我，后来渐渐对我友好: At first ( he ignored me completely, but gradually he started warming up to me.)
最后，我要多谢你: Lastly, I want to thank you. 我整晚没有机会和她谈语，最后，在十一点我找到机会。 All evening I was not able to talk to her. At last, at 11 pm, I found a chance to.
Finally, here is a old song that started with "At Last". Several years ago it was used by Jaguar motors as the theme song to one of its advertisements. (Let me see if I can do a link to that.)
TheYeti - 2008-9-12 10:27:00
[flash]http://www.youtube.com/v/LZXvLsltu2A[/flash]
At last my love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
At last the skies above are blue
And my heart was wrapped up in clover
The night I looked at you
I found a dream that I can speak to
A dream that I could call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
You smiled, and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
And you are mine at last.
TheYeti - 2008-9-12 10:34:00
Some students are not very careful when they use these terms. Subject 学科, Topic 课题, lesson 课, class 班, lecture 演讲,讲课, courses 课程的单元, curriculum 课程 , department 系, faculty 学院 .
A curriculum is a set of courses that forms a program. E.g. The curriculum for science consists of 6 courses in math, 8 in chemistry, 4 in physics....
A program is similar to a curriculum, but is not necessarily about a "set of course": E.g. The science program at BanDongDong University is the best in China.
A faculty is a collection of subject area: Faculty of science, faculty of engineering.
A subject area are things such as physics, computer science, electric engineering
Course are subjects you take. Lessons are what you learn, and classes are where you go to learn the subject matter in the courses you are taking.
E.g. At 10 a.m. I will be going to my chemistry class to listen to a lecture given by a member of the Chemistry faculty. I have piano lessons at 12 and the class for that is held at Prism Hall. There is a total of 5 courses I am taking this semester. 4 of them have classes in the morning.
=\=
Example quoted from:
I am sure I mentioned the difference between class and lesson before. But I decided do a rewrite and group it under this larger topic of "Notes in English."
Subject 学科, topic 课题, lesson 课, class 班, lecture 演讲/讲课, courses 课程的单元, curriculum 课程, department 系, faculty 学院 .
Let me make up an example:
The New Frontier University has the following faculties: Arts, Divinity, Engineering, Humanities, Law, and Science. The departments that make up the Faculty of Science are Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and Computer Science.
The Physics Department offers two curricula: Majors and Honours. Students in the Majors Program take a total of 24 courses in Physics plus complementary courses in mathematics over 4 years. Students in the Honours program take a total of 36 course in Physics and 12 courses in mathematics over a course of 5 years.
I am taking the Physics 401 course offered by the (Faculty of Physics)/(Physics Department). The subject (matter) of the course is Quantum Mechancis. This morning I went to class to attend the first lecture. The topic of the lecure was "The transition of Classical Mechancis to Quantum Mechancis."
(To be continued...)
TheYeti - 2008-9-12 10:48:00
Should would could We have discuss this problem before, but since this seem to be a problem area, I will discuss this again.
Should, would, could: Should means something you ought to; would means something you are willing to; and could means something you are capable of.
In the context of what I am discussing here: Should 应当,应该; Would 愿意/会; Could 能.
Here is a little rhyme I made for someone who asked me how she could distinguish the three: I would if only I could, since I should. (这是应做的事，如我能做的话，我一定会去做。) Or "
Or “If I could, I would, since I should.)
Or “If I could, I would, since I should.)
Read the following three sentences:
1. Should doctors do late-stage abortions? 应不应该
2. Could doctors do late-stage abortions? 能不能
3. Would doctors do late-stage abortion? 会不会/愿意不愿意。
(Yeti. August 25th, 2006)
From the song "El Condor Pasa" by Siomon and Garfunkel"
I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail.
Yes I would.
If I could,
I surely would.
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail.
Yes I would,
If I only could,
I surely would.
[flash]http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/T6i8HHrz2BI[/flash]
===
Here is another song with "could" and "would" in it.
Memories,
Like the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures,
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? could we?
Memories, may be beautiful and yet
Whats too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So its the laughter
We will remember
Whenever we remember...
The way we were...
The way we were...
[flash]http://www.youtube.com/v/n-KPGh3wysw[/flash]
TheYeti - 2008-9-12 10:56:00
Set their foot on. Recently, I have noticed several students using "set their feet on" when using the idiom "set foot on." The idiom itself is "set foot on", and is applied to an individual or a group.Here are some examples as found on the Internet.(1) Encylopedia Britannica: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9009549On July 20, 1969, United States astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., of the space flight Apollo 11, landed in the Mare Tranquillitatis, or Sea of Tranquillity. They were the first men to set foot on the surface of the moon.
(2) http://www.temple.edu/feinsteinctr/d.syllabi/documents/SyllabusAmericanJudaismSpring06CharlesESmithJDS.doc.
The first Jews set foot on the shores of America in 1654. They were Sephardic Jews from Amsterdam.(3) http://rudy.ca/july20th.html On July 20th, 1969, humans first set foot on the Moon
(4) http://www-tech.mit.edu/V123/N66/66_-_pistol.66s.html MIT has had national champions that have never touched a gun before they set foot on campus.
However, when it comes to "set their feet/foot", the use of the singular or plural would depend on whether you are talking about "their foot" as a collective or as individuals.
==(To be continued on some other day.)
孑叶 - 2008-9-12 13:42:00
谢谢Yeti的不吝赐教，使我们又学到一个非常有用的知识点，希望以后能经常得到您的指点。谢谢谢谢。另外：祝你的身体早日康复哈！
mengyuying - 2008-9-12 14:04:00
Hi ,The Yeti:
First of all, let me thank you for your artical, we learn more from it !
I am sorry to hear that you are ill, I hope you can restore soon! Because I expect to see you and read your articals everyday on our bbs! You know you are a good teacher for me ! :) :)
Best Wishes to you !
Happy Mid --Autumn Day!
TheYeti - 2008-9-13 2:34:00
I will do what I can, but please keep in mind I am no English expert. What I am writing about are collected from observations and distilled from experience--that does not necessarily mean they are correct.
TheYeti - 2008-9-13 2:45:00
Electric appliances refer to things such as refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, hot water kettles, food processors, dishwashers, washers, dryers,….etc--anything that runs directly on AC (alternating current).
Electronics, including consumer and industrial electronics, refers to computers, TVs, cell-phones, Hi-fi systems, and anything else that are essentially powered by D.C. (direct current) (Or with an AC/DC converter.)
Historically, vacuum tubes driven radio, hi-fi, radar etc run on DC. (There is a "rectifier" inside the set that converts AC to DC). Later on, transistors replaced tubes, and transistors run on DC. Transistors were in turn replaced by ICs (Integrated circuits), which are also direct current devices.
In recent years, the advance of "smart" appliances means there are "electronic parts" in electrical appliances; nevertheless, the line between Electric appliance and electronics/consumer electronics remains quite distinct.
If someone won't believe what you say, ask him or her to go to a large department store, such as Walmart or Sears, and look at what they find under Electrical appliances--no computers, cellphones, or MP3 players. You can also check on-line by looking into sites such as Circuit City, Best Buy, Future Shop, etc. (作者 The Yeti, September 12th, 2008. )
The following is an example of one such mistake. Unfortunately, the mistake is not made by a student. I hate to say this, but I have come across this type of mistake more than once in "sample essays."
(Quote from one of my old articles in another forum--forgotten which one; could be Tianya.)
另外一个常见的错误是错用 "Electric appliance":
举个例 (This sample essay can be found on the Internet. I have not included a particular link so as not to single out one particular site.)
"With the popularization of advanced technology and the reduction of prices for electric appliances, digital products have made their way into most people's life nowadays, such as computers, cameras, mp3s, as well as mobile phones."
在英语国家， Electric appliance 是指 microwave, refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine, dryer, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher 之类。 你若不信， 大可去 Walmart, Sears, 之类的公司去看看！ Mp3, Mp4, digital camera, digital computer。。。总称为 Electronics/electronic devices/consumer electronics. 而 MP3, ipod 之类也有称为 electronic gadgets/consumer electronics. 最重要的是 electrical 与 electronic 的分别。
The second mistake in the paragraph is the incorrect use of "such as." Notice "such as" is not about "nowadays", but is about "electronics."
"Life" should be plural: "singular" only when you are talking about a "life" common to all the "people."
Revised version:
Nowadays, with the popularization of advanced technology and the reduction of prices for electronics, digital products, such as computers, cameras, mp3s, and mobile phones, have made their way into most people's lives."
网上一小部份的 名师，名校，专家，必背范文都是错误很多，或是中式英语非常浓厚。当然，好的老师不是没有。这要看你的运气了。每年有些“名校，名师”的考试作文范文上小不免有错误，今年(2007， 12 月 CET6) 此乎特别多。 Many of these cramps schools are in fierce competition with one another for students and tends to sprint for coming out first with the "correct" answers right after each exam. They sacrifices quality and accuracy for speed. There is even one case in which 新东方 came out with six mistakes in just one part of their answers.
=================
TheYeti - 2008-9-13 2:59:00
The following is merged from the entries on 第 14 楼 and 第 41 楼 http://www.rainlane.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=8&;replyid=40850&id=16107&skin=0&page=1&star=2 同学习作中常见的毛病 item #23
On the one hand, ..., on the other hand-->You cannot use this for introducing a list of reasons. "On the onehand,..., on the other hand" can be used only to introduce twoconflicting reasons. E.g. On the one hand I am so hungry I want to eatmore, on the other hand, I am afraid I will over eat. Anotherexample: On the one hand, this course appeals to me because it willhelp me in my future career, but, on the other hand, the teacher is soboring that I simply hate going to his classes.
Anotherexample: On the one hand, this course appeals to me because it willhelp me in my future career, but, on the other hand, the teacher is soboring that I simply hate going to his classes.
Anotherexample: On the one hand, this course appeals to me because it willhelp me in my future career, but, on the other hand, the teacher is soboring that I simply hate going to his classes.
===
第 41 楼I am still coming across lots of misuse of this idiom. The reasoncould be that students thought this idiom means 一方面。。。另一方面, whenactually "on the other hand" is used as a contrative to "on the onehand" 这个另一方面并不是任何的另一方面，而是有“相反一方面"的含义.
http://dict.die.net/on%20the%20other%20hand/on the other hand
adv : (
contrastive 相反) from another point of view; "on the other
hand, she is too ambitious for her own good"; "then
again, she might not go" [syn: then again, but then]
[ant: on the one hand]
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/on+the+one+hand...on+the+other+hand
on the one hand...on the other hand
something that you say when you are speaking about two different facts or two opposite ways of thinking about a situation.On the one hand, I'd like more money, but on the other hand, I'm notprepared to work the extra hours in order to get it. On the one hand,you complain that you're lonely, and on the other hand you won't cometo parties with me. http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/on%20the%20other%20hand
Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: au contraire
Part of Speech: adverb/adjective
Definition: on the contrary
Synonyms: contrarily, in opposition, on the other hand, to the contrary
Source: Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.3.1)
Copyright © 2007 by Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved.Thisidiom is not for presenting parallel views, or reinforcing views, butis for different views. (Different means not on the same side of thefence!)Wrong use: On the one hand, she is beautiful; on the other hand, she knows how to dress well.Correct use: On the one hand, she is beautiful; on the other hand, she is a cold calculating person.
TheYeti - 2008-9-13 3:10:00
In Chinese, there is no space after a punctuation, but there is one in English.
The rule is: word, no space, punctuation, space, next word. There are exceptions such as brackets and inverted commas.
Some people think this is trivial, but believe me, it bugs English teachers to no end. In the old days before there were computers, I used to arbitrarily set punctuation spacing so as to make lines or pages fit, but my students were very much annoyed to not finding a space after a comma or period--it jars their senses. (I am not an English teacher. I taught physics.)
A few months ago I found this article on the Internet:
中国人常犯的英语错误 1
[转帖] 原作者: 托尼福 原贴地址: 文学城 转帖出自
http://blog.wenxuecity.com/blogview.php?date=200507&postID=8696&page=1#mark
1) 句号后面不空格：
接触了点“国内英文”，发现有这个通病。问了一个朋友才恍然大悟，因为在打中文时，标点符号后面是不用空格的。但是在太平洋两岸尚未统一之前，劳驾打英文标点时，后面姑且先空一格吧。
TheYeti - 2008-9-13 3:27:00
Learn Knowledge. Chinese, and not just students, tend to add the word "knowledge" unnecessarily, making the sentence sound "Chinese" rather than "proper English."
Chinese English: I learned a lot of knowledge when I was at university.
Proper English: I learned a lot when I was at university.
Chinese: We don't have many opportunities to put theory knowledge into practice.
Proper English: We don't have many opportunities to put theory into practice.
(Note: "theoretical knowledge" is fine; "theory knowledge" is not." "Learn new knowledge" is also acceptable.
Other similar discussions as found on the Internet:
http://teflchina.org/teach/general/commonEngErr.htm (*This is a site for foreign teachers teaching English in China.)
(...mistakes...)
3) "knowledge" - "We get a lot of knowledge in the university." Many students don't know how to use "learn" as in: "I learned a lot in university."
====================================
(Source citation unavailable. The link I have on record no longer works.)
Chinglish in Chinese-English Translation
Yanrui Li* Huzhou Normal College
Chinese and English are so vastly different that it is not always easy to use English collocation properly. There are some typical wrong collocations, for example, making achievements (attaining achievements). It's wrong collocation which results in Chinglish. Committing mistakes (making mistakes) is another one. And we don'tlearn knowledge, we learn English, we learn French, but we don't learn knowledge, we acquire language. Here's another example of the problem of collocation, the letter writes (the letter reads). It is impermissible personification in English.
================================================================
http://www.askynz.com/newielts/3_009.htm
托福雅思写作中的“Chinglish”
37. People should learn knowledge no matter how old they are.
更正：People should learn no matter how old they are.
====================================================================
http://www.rainlane.com/dispbbs.asp?boardID=11&ID=12354&star=6
308. 学校是学生学知识的殿堂。
[误] School is a palace where students learn knowledge.
[正] School is a palace where students acquire/attain knowledge
Yeti's note: Alternatives:School is a place for learning./ School is a palace forlearning./School is shrine/treasure house for learning/School is atreasure house of knowledge. (Notice the word "student" isunnecessary.).
==================
(More to come later. Please note: I am just rehashing old materials 炒冷飯; I don't have anything new to contribute yet.)
TheYeti - 2008-9-15 13:28:00
warm-hearted vs keen on
How would you describe someone who is 热心助人？ I bet most of you would say, "Heis warm-hearted." After all, you say, the dictionary (e.g. 金山词霸) gives warmheartedas: 关心的, 友善的, 亲切的 2 热心助人的, 富同情心的, 热心肠的,温情的,亲切的; ...
Sure, I said,金山词霸 also gives "gender" 动词 as 性_交 ! (I gender you; you gender me.Let's go and have gender. ????!!! I am sure you have never heard ofthat!!!!)
Let's look at what English dictionaries have to say.
Webster:
Warm-hearted: Marked by warmth of feeling like kindness and sympathy and generosity; "gave a warmhearted welcome to the stranger".
Wikipedia: warm-hearted (or warmhearted)
amicable and friendly
kind, sympathetic and generous
Meriam-Webster: marked by ready affection, cordiality, generosity, or sympathy
So where does it say "热心助人"? Nowhere!
So what does native speakers say when they say so-and-so is 热心助人?
George is keen on helping other people.
Other forms: "finds joy in helping people"; "playing the good Samaritan"; "an urge to help..."
He is always keen in playing the good Samaritan.
She enjoys being a good Samaritan. He always have an urge to help others.
Someone who likes to help others is called as "good Samaritan" (from the Bible story of a Samaritan who helped someone when others failed to do so.)
You can also use "keen" for other forms of 热心. E.g. She is keen on contributing to public welfare. He is keen on helping advance the public good.
TheYeti - 2008-9-15 13:38:00
quote from the Style Manual at the site:
http://garbl.home.comcast.net/stylemanual/a.htm
ability, capability, capacity Sometimes confused.
Ability is a person's mental skill or physical power to do something. Capability is the general power or ability of a machine or organization to do something or be used to do something. Capability also can apply to people, but ability is usually the simpler choice. Capacity is the amount that something can get, hold, contain, produce or carry.Figuratively, it describes a person's physical or mental power to learn something. It also refers to a person's job, position or duty, though those words are simpler and clearer.
===
Reprinted from "Confusable words)
http://www.cdhuaying.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=9530&pid=36278&page=1&sid=FAdrIT#pid36278
(The article itself is a reprint. Source unknown. Author unknown.)
ability capability capacity
to have ability, a particular ability, or the ability to do something,意为有能力做某事，指具有做某事所需要的技能或知识。ability常用来描述某人能做好某事。
He had remarkable ability as an administrator.
他的行政管理能力很强。
.....the ability to bear hardship.
.....吃苦耐劳的能力
a person's capability 指某人能做多少工作及工作质量的好坏。
The director has his own ideas both of the role and of the capability of the actor.
导演不仅对演员的角色而且对他的能力都有自己的看法。
It was, in any case, beyond the capability of one man.
无论如何，这绝非一个人力所能及。
to have a particular capacity
a capacity for something 或a capacity to do something意为具备做某事所需的特殊品质。
capacity ability
...their capacity for being inspired by heroes.
...他们能感受英雄的激励。
...his capacity always to see the other person's point of view.
...他总有洞察别人观点的能力。
===
From: 第 61 楼 http://www.rainlane.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=11&id=10895&star=7#35282
251 Chinese Style: Rose is capable to cook Indian food
American Style: Rose is able to cook Indian food.
===
"Reader's" 英语辨词 第六章 ability，capability，capacity 有何不同 ? 第 57楼 http://www.rainlane.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=11&star=6&replyid=44895&id=10266&skin=0&page=1
ability，capability，capacity有何不同？ ability(能力)指智力或体力上的能力，主要指人。这种能力可能是先天的，也可能是通过学习或锻炼等方法而获得的。A pilot has the ability tofly his plane through a storm. 飞行员有驾驶飞机穿过暴风雨的本领。He shows considerableability in organization. 他表现出相当强的组织能力。其反义词是：disability，inability，incapability，incapacity
capability(能力)意义与ability相同，可指人或物。复数形式指潜在的能力。The task is beyond his capabilities.他不能胜任这项任务。I don t think that boy has great capabilities.我认为那孩子没有多大潜力。The country has the capability to defeat the aggressor.这个国家有能力击败任何侵略者。其反义词是： inability ，incapability，incompetence
capacity(能力)通常指接受能力或容纳能力，既可指人又可指物。The child shows a great capacity for learninglanguages. 这孩子显示出很强的学习语言的能力。This vacuum flask has a capacity of fivepounds. 这只热水瓶容量为5磅。其反义词是： incapacity
TheYeti - 2008-10-3 11:21:00
Note 1: Even native speakers are prone to these two mistakes.
Note 2: This is part of a longer article on writing I wrote a few years ago. The present form you see below was posted at 旺旺英语.
================
很久以前在电视上看到一片段的电影 (I rarely watch TV, and movies even rarely still. Iusually watch only parts of a movie when I am flipping channels).这片段影出一个白人女子在图书馆里 tutor (probably in one of these peer-mentoring program)一个男孩子的作文。她一边看一边说 “run-on, fragment, run-on, run-on, run-on,fragment..." 这对话是示出有些(美国本土)学生写作仍有很多是错用 Run-on sentences (不间断句子) and sentence fragments (不完整句) 。
Chinese are very prone to using run-onsentences as Chinese are used to writing sentences in which segmentsare separated by commas. I used to make lots of mistakes like that. Inrecent years I have tried to double check myself against using run-ons,but of course, I am not always successful.
Below are two articlesin the series "Common Mistakes in Writing" I wrote for Rainlane 3 yearsago. Parts of it was based on what I learn in my English composition101 course more than 45 years ago, and parts are from materials foundon the Internet.
1. Run-on Sentences.
Run-on sentences aresentences that have more than one complete sentence in it. Althougheven some native speakers do make this kind of mistake, Chinese aremore prone to do so because of the way Chinese sentences arestructured. Many Chinese sentences are long sentences separated bycommas. The same "thought", when expressed in English, and with thesame commas in place, usually leads to run-on sentences.
Here is a typical example of a run-on sentence:
I am going to school, if I don't get there on time, I will be late, my teacher will punish me, I will have to stay after class.
(Think it over. Read the next message for the answer.)
TheYeti - 2008-10-3 11:24:00
Run-onsentences can be corrected by (i) making independent sentences by using fullstops, (ii) making the completed sentences into independent clauses byusing a semi-colon to separate them, or (iii) making dependent and/orindependent clauses out of them by using a conjunction.
I am going to school, if I don't get there on time, I will be late, my teacher will punish me, I will have to stay after class.
The complete sentences in the paragraph above are
-I am going to school.
-If I don't get there in time, I'll be late.
-My teacher will punish me.
-I will have to stay after class.
Solutions: (There are several, here are only a few possibilities.)
(I)Short sentences:
I am going to school. If I don't get there on time, Iwill be late. My teacher will punish me. I will have to stay after class.
(II) Use conjunction to make independent clauses.
Iam going to school, and if I don't get there on time, I will be late.My teacher will punish me, and I will have to stay after class.
(III) Use semi-colon to achieve the same effect as in (II) above.
I am going to school; if I don't get there on time, I will be late. My teacher will punish me; I will have to stay after class.
Exercises: There are many on-line exercises. Use Google to look for them. (Use search words run-on sentence exercise)
Here are two:
http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/run-ons_ex1.htm
and
http://www.writing.eng.vt.edu/exercises/grammar1.html
TheYeti - 2008-10-3 11:26:00
Here is something from what I wrote for the faculty magazine of our college about 12 years ago. Much to my dismay, I noticed my mistake only afterit had been published.
Read over the following carefully, and see if you can pinpoint the mistake.
Retirement, the Nickels and Dimes of It. (This is the title. The error is not in there.)
A middle age couple jogging on the street of a seemingly posh neighbourhood. "Freedom 55", claimed an insurance company. A man fishing on a pier besides a lake. "Why is this man smiling when he has just been downsized?", asked a mutual fund company.
Background: The above refers to the advertisement retirement planning and investment companies run on TV.
Think it over. Hint: What are the basic elements in a complete sentence?
When you think you have the answer, read the next message.
TheYeti - 2008-10-3 11:35:00
Abasic sentence(i) is composed of a subject, a verb and an object. Sowhere is the verb in "A middle age couple jogging on the street of a seemingly posh neighbourhood." and "A man fishing on a pier besides a lake."? Jogging and fishing are not "verbs"; they are part of the phrase that forms the object.
Correction:
A middle agecouple is seen jogging... --> (A middle age couple) =subject, "is seen" (verb, passive voice), "jogging on the street"= object (The middle age couple is seen doing something. That something ="jogging on the street.") The same goes for the second sentence fragment.
(i) Of course there are exceptions. E.g. "Stop immediately! " is a complete sentence.
=======================================================
Time for some exercise:
Here is a group of sentence fragments taken from the Purdue University On-Line Writing workshop. Do not look at the answers until you have given the exercise your best shot.
Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. CoachDietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middleof a game. Leaving her team at a time when we needed her.
I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well.
The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which is why we believe the proposed amendments should be passed
A story with deep thoughts and emotions.
Toys of all kinds thrown everywhere.
A record of accomplishment beginning when you were first hired.
With the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.
By paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader unwilling to propose innovative policies.
For doing freelance work for a competitor got Phil fired.
For answers, go to:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_frag.html
==
The above are parts I and II of
http://www.rainlane.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=8&id=13605&star=1#13605
1. Run-on sentences 不间断句子: messages 2 to 3 第 2 to 3 楼
2. Sentence fragments. 不完整句 messages 4 and 5 第 4, 5 楼
3. Misplaced modifiers. messages 6 and 7 第 6 and 7 楼
4. Ambiguities. message. message 8 第 8 楼
5. Parallelism (Balance) messages 9 and 10 第 9 and 10 楼
6. Wordiness Part I: messages 13 to 15 第 13 to 15 楼
7. Deadwood : Unnecessary Intensifiers 第16 楼
8. Passive Voice (第17 楼)
9. Nominalization (第19, 20 楼)
10. Pruning
mengyuying - 2008-10-6 13:48:00
Nice to see you ,The Yeti! What are you doing now? We have not saw you on our bbs for these days! welcome ! We want to read your new aritical!
TheYeti - 2008-10-10 10:52:00
I am having trouble with a "motor-neuron disorder" and is presently under the care of a neurologist. I have cut back my time on the Internet by a large margin.
mengyuying - 2008-10-12 16:51:00
HI ，Uncle The Yeti：
I am very glad to see you again on our bbs ! I am sorry to hear that you are ill!I do not know the disease you said!
I look for this "motor-neuron disorder"on dictionay! It was translated as马达神经元疾病!
No matter where you are ,please take care of youself! Best wishes to you ! You know you are my first friend to talk with on our bbs ,I learn more from you ! you are also my teacher to improve my English !
mengyuying - 2008-10-12 17:06:00
感谢The Yeti的回帖！
"I have cut back my time on the Internet by a large margin." 从这个句子里我又学到了一个短语“by a large margin”更多的时间。
当然Margin这个词还有其它多种用法！大家来学习一下！
margin [ˈmɑːdʒin]
n.
1.
边缘部分; 页边的空白; 栏外
2.
【军】图廓; 范围
3.
界限
4.
(时间、花费上保留的)余地; 余 裕
5.
盈余; 利润; (成本与售价的)差额, 赚头
6.
差数; 幅度
7.
保证金, 押金
notes written in the margin
写在页边空白处的注解
sit on the margin of a lake
坐在湖边
He is on the margin of death.
他已濒临死亡。
There is no margin for error in our plan.
我们的计划中不留有误差幅度。
They have always had to make do with relatively small profit margins.
他们不得不经常设法应付较少的利润额。
vt.
1.
加[留]边缘于; 围绕
2.
在...加旁注
3.
【商】为...付保险金
习惯用语:
by a comfortable margin
时间充裕地, 以较大的多数
by a narrow margin
比分相差不大地, 以微弱多数, 悬而又悬地
by a ... margin
以...之差
by a wide margin
广泛的回旋余地; 广泛的便宜行事的权力
特殊用法:
active continental margin
主动大陆边缘
additionalmargin
追加保证金,追加押金
apicalmargin
(昆虫翅)顶缘
amplitude stability margin
振幅稳定性余量[系数]
Andeans-type continental margin
安第斯型大陆边缘
Atlantic-type continental margin
大西洋型大陆边缘
mengyuying - 2008-10-13 14:02:00
Hello Uncle The Yeti:
I need your help! I translated some sentences for my friend ,but I do not know if it is right! Please help me to correct the mistake! Thanks !
我们的世界是一个整体 他由人类的一部分强势群体和一部分弱势群体组成 强势群体要去辅助弱势群体 比如我们要去帮组受灾害得病痛的人们 只有这样我们的的世界才能成为一个有机和谐的整体～ 这就是1+1=1！
As a whole world, it is composed of a part of the vulnerable groups and a part of strong power groups. The strong power groups ask to help the vulnerable groups .
For example, we need to help people who caught by the disaster. Nothing but in this way,our world can become more and more harmonious. It is one plus one equal to one.
mengyuying - 2008-10-13 14:03:00
我们的世界是一个整体 他由人类的一部分强势群体和一部分弱势群体组成 强势群体要去辅助弱势群体 比如我们要去帮组受灾害得病痛的人们 只有这样我们的的世界才能成为一个有机和谐的整体～ 这就是1+1=1！
As a whole world, it is composed of a part of the vulnerable groups and a part of strong power groups. The strong power groups ask to help the vulnerable groups .
For example, we need to help people who caught by the disaster. Nothing but in this way,our world can become more and more harmonious. It is one plus one equal to one.
ひつがや冰 - 2008-10-18 19:41:00
谢谢赐教LZ:Z
TheYeti - 2008-11-5 4:09:00
我们的世界是一个整体 他由人类的一部分强势群体和一部分弱势群体组成 强势群体要去辅助弱势群体 比如我们要去帮组受灾害得病痛的人们 只有这样我们的的世界才能成为一个有机和谐的整体～ 这就是1+1=1！
I am sorry I did not see your message until today.Here is a revised version. Better late than never!
Our world is an indivisible integrated whole, making up partly by vulneable groups and partly by powerful groups. The strong should help out the weak, such our helping those caught by disasters. Only this way will our world be a harmonius whole. This is the principle of one plus one equals to one.
mengyuying - 2008-11-5 9:18:00
Thank you very much ! I know you are ill these days! I hope you keep good health!
I look forword to your good news!
TheYeti - 2008-11-6 8:44:00
There is a "the" for "Internet" (the Internet), "WTO" (the World Trade Organization), and dynasties (The Ming Dynasty, The Sung Dynasty etc.)
However there is
no 'the" for "nature" when nature is used for 大自然. Yes, "the nature" in 新东方必背范文 is
incorrect (and so is "oil" when gasoline or petrol should have been used). If a 新东方 大师名师 insists they are correct, bet him/her 100 Yuan it is not and ask him/her to open up an English magazine or newspaper to look for it. (By the way, is there any teacher in 新东方 who is not a 大师 or 名师?)
(copy and paste from Rainlane http://www.rainlane.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=8&star=1&id=16107 6. The article “the” , and no "the" for nature, mankind, life, death, society, humanity, information, education....
There are lots of rules for when and when not to use “the.” Unfortunately, in real life, if you need to think about it, chances are, you will get it wrong. Many students tend to forget the use of “the” when needed, and put in a “the” when there should be none.
There is no “the” for “nature.” "Nature" is an abstract, there can be no specific reference. Unlike "the sky", "the earth" or even "the universe"--physical objects you can poin to--"nature" is an "abstraction. Society is another word that has different meaning with and without “the.” The society=a particular society. The society of man; the society of the evil ones… Usually, when we talk about “society” we just say “society” or “our society”, e.g. Technical advances have a deep impact on society/(our society) (not “the society.) There is no "the" for "mankind" either. E.g. Enviromental degration is deterimental to mankind. No "the" for "life" in general: In life, we must face the bitter and the sweet. (Not "in the life...")(There are other cases which I have mentioned when I corrected one of the essays here. Unfortunately, I cannot locate it. I will add more cases to this thread when I come across them in the future.)(No "the" in "Nature")
(Loon is short for
looney=A crazy guy.)
For more, read the thread on "Collection and correction of Chinglish."
Quoted from: NO The in front of Nature. Collection and Correction of Chinglish 第 52 楼
http://www.rainlane.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=11&id=10928| Incorrect | Correct |
| We must accept the life and death as they are. | We must accept life and death as they are. |
| Much of the environmental damage are caused by the mankind. | Much of the environmental damage are caused by mankind. |
| Finally, George is ready to entire the society. | Finally, George is ready to retire society. |
| any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in the mankind (John Donne "No man is an Island") | any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind (John Donne "No man is an Island.") |
Cases of
specific references. Examples: Joe is a member of
the society of amateur sleuths.
The life of a poor student is certainly not easy.
The death of my mother affected me deeply.
TheYeti - 2008-11-6 9:09:00
A word about the comic strip.
The "loon" referred to by the artsy looking guy on the left is the wild goose. The dog used it as a pun for the word "loon=looney=a crazy guy".
TheYeti - 2008-11-6 9:26:00
Supplement to #12 (15th floor:
sentence fragments)
The following is quoted from
Grammatically Correct 10/30/08
A weekly grammar tip created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors.University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901
The word
because can easily lead writers into creating sentence fragments. Because it begins a
subordinate clause. The previous “sentence” ("Because it begins a subordinate clause")
is a fragment. Notice that, like all subordinate clauses, the fragment contains a subject (it) and a verb (begins), but the clause does not function as a sentence--the subordinate clause needs to be attached to an independent clause to form a complete idea.
A subordinate clause is a dependent clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction, such as because, while, since, after, or though. A subordinate clause is always attached to an independent clause, or a clause with a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought. Because subordinate clauses do contain a subject and verb, they are easily deceptive, often sounding like sentences, especially in conversation:
Ex. “Why did you hand this to me?”
“Because you know what to do with it.”
This type of error is typically found in everyday speech. The second “sentence” is a subordinate clause—even though it is punctuated like a sentence and may “feel” like a sentence.
Ex. Kali walked an entire mile. Because she went to the store, then she stopped by Sonic.
While the second “sentence” explains the first, it is not actually a sentence.
The simplest way to amend a because-fragment is to attach it before or after an independent clause—which is usually the preceding sentence. If you place it before the clause, set it off by a comma.
Ex. Because she went to the store, then she stopped by Sonic, Kali walked an entire mile.
================================================
Notes from Yeti:
Mistake such as this are also made by students (or even professional writers) in English speaking countries.
A similiar mlstake is the use of "Especially" in the beginning of a sentence. I have seen quite a lot of that mistake in Chinese students' writings and, sadly, sample essays too. So far, I have only come across 2 such incidents in professional writings, one in Time Magazine. Note, however, it is perfectly alright to use sentence fragments in conversation. Spoken English is a lot easier than written English. The only thing holding you back in spoken English is one, "you are too shy to open your mouth", and two, "you waste too much time trying to translate in your head what someone is saying into Chinese. By the time you translated the first few words of the sentence, you have missed the rest of the sentence!"