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英語修飾語位置錯誤

英語修飾語位置錯誤

以前曾討論過名詞修飾語的種類和用法。在談到修飾語用法時,未免要牽涉到修飾語的位置。這點相當重要,因為修飾語不管是單字的或短語的或甚至是分句的,它們都要定位,不可越雷池一步,否則不是語意模糊,就是不合句法。
   下麵這則室內設計商的廣告,有兩個小缺點。一個是同義詞重複;另一個便是修飾語位置不妥:
   “We fabricate our products from the best quality materials available and ensure refinement in the finishing works while keeping your cost at the lowest possible prices. ”
   先談同義詞的重複。在“while keeping your cost at the lowest possible prices”中,把“prices”改為“level”即可。如果要品味好些,可把“possible”挪到“level”後頭,即:“ While keeping your cost at the lowest level possible.”
   現在談修飾語位置問題。
   在“We fabricate our products from the best quality materials available”中,形容詞短語“best quality”漏了介語 “of”:“of best quality”。這樣的短語一定要擺在被修飾的名詞後面,即:“We fabricate our products from the materials of best quality available”;不然,就把“quality”去掉,只留住“best”也可:“We... from the best materials available.”
   上述這兩種小毛病雖然不是很普遍,但是也會碰到。看看這幾個實例就知道了:
? Do you know the man who talked to you in a white shirt?
   這裏的形容詞短語“in a white shirt”和所修飾的名詞“the man”離開太遠,不妥當,要移前:“Do you know the man in a white shirt who talked to you ?”
? A dog is a good helper that is well-trained.
   這裏的形容詞分句“that is well-trained”修飾名詞“the dog”,不是“a good helper”,因此要和正確的對象靠近:“A dog that is well-trained is a good helper.”
   名詞修飾語的位置重要,動詞修飾語的位置也不可馬虎。例如:
? The Board of Directors only has meeting once a month.
   這裏的副詞“only”顯然是要修飾“once a month”,那麼就應該把它移過去:“The Board of Directors has meeting only once a month.”
? The man needed a bandage for his wound badly.
   這裏的狀態副詞“badly”修飾動詞“needed”。既然如此,它就要移到“needed”之前:“The man badly needed a bandage for his wound.”
? Though the standard of living is raised, the costs of living are increasing also.
   習慣上,“also”這個位置屬於“too”的;“also”可以到“ are increasing”中間去;
   “Though the standard of living is raised, the costs of living are increasing, too.”或
   “Though the standard of living is raised, the costs of living are also increasing.
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