這一節(jié)我們將學習如何借助字典來改正信件中的用詞、語法錯誤。
Editing: Using A Dictionary
When you edit what you write, you can get some help from
two "friends". One of these "friends" is a colleague; the other is a book.
You'll find it very helpful to have a good
English-English dictionary as you edit.
A bi-lingual dictionary can be useful for translations,
but an English-English dictionary gives you more information on how to use a
word or phrase.
One of the more user-friendly dictionaries is the Longman
Dictionary of Contemporary English.
However, if you don't have a copy of this dictionary,
don't worry! You'll still be able to do the exercises in this
chapter.
EXERCISE: COMMON ERRORS
To understand how a dictionary can help you edit, do the
following exercise.
Albert Hui's letter (below) contains four main types of
common errors. There are a total of 11 errors. Only one example of each type of
error is highlighted. Can you identify what the four types of error are?
|
Dear Ms Brown
Thank you for your letter of 1 March 200X. I
apologise the delay in responding.
I am please to provide you the informations about our standing
instructions.
I understand you have no experiences of this
service before. However, I am sure you will find this service very convenience. When you use this
service to settle your bill, we will debit the amount from your account
automatically.
May I suggest you to apply immediately
by filling out the enclose application form. We would be happy to arrange
you to enjoy this free service. If you would like to discuss about this, please call
to me or any of our staffs on 23446577.
|
Types of Error:
informations=countable / uncountable
nouns
convenience=word class
suggest you to
apply=verb+verb
discuss about=verb+preposition
Other examples of the errors:
|
Dear Ms Brown
Thank you for your letter of 1 March 200X. I apologise the delay in
responding.
I am please to
provide you the informations
about our standing instructions.
I understand you have no experiences of this service before. However, I
am sure you will find this service very convenience. When you use this
service to settle your bill, we will debit the amount from your account
automatically.
May I suggest you to apply immediately
by filling out the enclose application
form. We would be happy to arrange you to
enjoy this free service. If you would like to discuss about this, please call to me or any of our staffs on
23446577. |
COMMON ERRORS
Albert Hui's letter contains four types of common errors.
If you could not identify these types of errors, you probably need to improve in
those areas. You can use a dictionary to help you to improve in each area.
Verb + verb (two verbs in a
sentence)
In his letter, Albert wrote
"May I suggest you to apply…"
How many verbs are there in this phrase?
(Two)
When a phrase or sentence contains two verbs, you should
check the grammar in a dictionary.
|
suggest......(verb) 1 to tell
someone your ideas about what they should do: Please suggest a convenient
time for our meeting with Mr Brown. suggest doing sth She suggested
sending the books by airmail. suggest (that) He suggested that I talk to his
supervisor about my proposal...... |
Is Albert's phrase correct?
He wrote:
"May I suggest you to
apply..."
Albert wants to tell Ms Brown his ideas about what she
should do.
According to the dictionary, there are two ways to do
this. The phrases highlighted in bold show you the grammatical structures that
you can use with the verb "suggest".
You can write "suggest doing
something"
You can also write "suggest
(that)"
But you cannot write "suggest to do
something"
So Albert's phrase is not correct.
From the dictionary you learn that
l
"suggest" can
be followed by a 'doing' word (a verb)
l
the verb that
follows "suggest" must take the ~ing form.
The dictionary also tells you
that
you can say "suggest
(that)".
If the dictionary puts "that" in brackets, it means you
don't have to use it.
For example:
She suggested sending the
books by airmail.
She suggested that I send
the books by airmail.
She suggested I send the
books by airmail.
Albert should have used one of the following three ways
to write this phrase:
1. "May I suggest applying
immediately..."
2. "May I suggest that you apply
immediately..."
3. "May I suggest you apply
immediately..."
下一節(jié)我們將來分析Verb + preposition 的錯誤類型以及如何改正。
（來源：中國物流論壇 實習生江巍 英語點津 Annabel 編輯）
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