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Uni-Edit 写作技巧 003D:平行结构 Part D – 做比较

难度:高级

征文(Uni-edit)的编辑们在编辑英文稿件时,常常需要修改句子,使其符合平行结构的用法。

正确使用平行结构会使文章清楚易懂。无论读者是英语母语人士还是非母语人士,平行结构有助于读者理解文意。

平行结构系列共分为五个部分,该部分是第四部分,重点介绍用平行结构做比较。
做比较时,被比较的事物应该以平行结构的方式排列。

请看下面的例子:
错误:My income is smaller than my wife.
正确:My income is smaller than my wife's.
(我的收入比我太太的少。)

解释:错误的例句读起来似乎是在拿“收入的多少”与“太太的个子大小”作比较,非常不合理。而在正确的例句中,因为使用了所有格 “s”,读者可以理解这里的 “'s” 指的是太太的收入,意思很清楚在此例句中,“我的收入”跟“我太太的收入”就是平行结构。

再看另一个例子,请注意句中使用所有格 “s” 的使用:

错误:Paul's GPA is higher than Ralph.  (Paul的GPA分数比Ralph高。)
正确:Paul's GPA is higher than Ralph's.  (Paul的GPA分数比Ralph的高。)

解释:这个例句跟上一个例句的情况类似,在此,“Paul的GPA分数” 跟“Ralph的GPA分数”是平行结构。

下面的例子,请注意 “to” +动词 和 “he” 的用法:
错误:In English class, Mike learned to read poems critically and he appreciated good prose.
正确:In English class, Mike learned to read poems critically and to appreciate good prose.
(在英文课上, Mike学习了如何赏析诗词,以及如何欣赏优秀的散文。)

解释: Mike是句子的主语,我们可以使用平行结构 “…to read… to appreciate…”,避免重复使用 “he”,让句子读起来更加自然顺畅。

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Uni-edit English Writing Tip: Parallel structures Part D — Making comparisons

Level of difficulty: Advanced

This is the fourth part in a five part series about using parallel structures. This part focuses on marking comparisons in parallel constructions.

While editing English manuscripts, Uni-edit editors often need to correct sentences for correct usage of parallel structures. Correct use of parallel structures makes the writing easier to read and easier to understand for native-speakers of English and for non-native speakers of English.

When making comparisons, the things you compare should be contained in parallel structures. Using parallel structures is not always possible, but it is possible most of the time.

Here is an example:

Incorrect: My income is smaller than my wife.
English corrected: My income is smaller than my wife's.

Explanation: In the incorrect sentence, it appears as though the size of the income is compared to the size of the wife. This is very odd. In the correct sentence, because of the usage of the possessive ('s), the reader understands that means 'the wife's income'. This meaning is clear. The parallel structure is 'my income' and 'my wife's income'.

Here is another example. Pay attention to the use of the possessive: i.e., 's.

Incorrect: Paul's GPA is higher than Ralph.
English corrected: Paul's GPA is higher than Ralph's.

Explanation: Similar to the above example, the parallel structure is ‘Paul’s GPA’ and ‘Ralph’s GPA’.

Here is another example below. Pay attention to the use of 'to verb' and the use of 'he'.

Incorrect: In English class, Mike learned to read poems critically and he appreciated good prose.
English corrected: In English class, Mike learned to read poems critically and to appreciate good prose.

Explanation: As Mike has already been introduced as the “actor” in the first part of the sentence, we can avoid using 'he' by using a parallel structure such as '…to read… to appreciate…'. This makes the sentence more natural.

END OF TIP