英文寫作常犯錯誤講解

前言

這一篇是基於我多年英文教學的經驗整理出來的，說明英文標點符號、大小寫、空格如何使用，英文文章如何分段，並說明幾個常見英文寫作錯誤。

這些小細節就英文寫作程度是對應於西方人國小程度的東西。華人學生在學習英文的時候，常常把心力花在背更高深的單字，使用更複雜的句型，小地方卻錯很多。

這就好像一位西方人學習中文，孔子說什麼，孟子說什麼背了一堆，寫出來的句子卻是：

我朋友跟我說, "我明天早上要搭車去台北." 

用英文的標點符號寫中文，不倫不類。

這些小東西如果錯，西方讀者可能會覺得同學英文寫作程度非常差。實際上不見得英文有那麼差，連國小程度都不到，只是我們語言背景不一樣，這些東西不太會注意到而已。

這一篇文章我點出幾個最常見的英文寫作問題，無論是考托福雅思，或是商業書信往來，或是留學的時候寫英文論文，都可以用得到。

使用方式：如果要查這一篇文章是否有講到你有疑問的句型，可以用 CONTROL + F來搜尋。

這篇文章我會陸陸續續不定期更新。

中文 vs. 英文主詞動詞觀念

中文句子沒有主詞跟動詞的觀念，所以我們在寫英文文章的時候，常常會想到就加逗號，或是想到就寫一個新的句子。中文的逗號沒有很固定的用法，大概就是覺得夠長了，該換一口氣，就加一個逗號，講夠久了，覺得該加句號，就加一個句號。

英文的句型是非常固定的，每一句都有一個主詞，一個動詞。英文中的所謂一個「句子」，意思就是有主詞，有動詞。華人學生最常出狀況的是動詞，往往句子已經有一個主要動詞了，想加另一個意思，中文是直接逗號就加下去沒問題，英文卻要變化第二個動詞，把第二個動詞放在子句之中或是用and來連結。

像是  There is a man. 主詞是 there，動詞是is，如果要再加一個動詞，像是這個人在跑步，不能直接加變成 There is a man run. 要寫 There is a man who is running. 'Who is running' 是一個關代子句，或者寫 There is a man running. 'Running' 是分詞構句。

主要句子、附屬子句標點符號怎麼使用，哪一些字可以單獨使用於一個句子，哪一些字只能用於副屬子句，都規定得非常清楚。

英文句子有主詞有動詞。
英文句子有主詞有動詞。
英文句子有主詞有動詞。

很重要，說三遍。寫英文不要像寫中文那樣，換口氣加一個逗號就接著講下去。

名字的寫法

常常在CV或推薦信中看到名字寫成 Chang, Da-Chong。這種 last name, first name 的寫法通常只出現於學術文章的書目之中，或是特定的填公文填表格的時候會規定要用這個寫法。

CV上一定是先名再姓，也就是要寫Da-Chong Chang。推薦信最下方打出名字的時候，也是要寫 Da-Chong Chang或是 Professor Da-Chong Chang，不要寫 Professor Chang, Da-Chong。

推薦信中推薦人稱呼被推薦人的方式：

第一次提到寫稱呼加全名，像是 Mr. Da-Chong Chang。第二次之後可以寫縮短版。推薦人跟被推薦人很熟，或是雙方不居小節，推薦人會用first name稱被推薦人，會稱之為 Da-Chong。如果推薦人跟被推薦人比較不熟，或是推薦人是比較傳統比較嚴肅的個性，則稱被推薦人為 Mr. Chang。但不要寫 Mr. Da-Chong，既不正式也不隨和。
 
英文文章分段方式

分段方式有兩種，請二選一，不要綜合使用。

一種是段落之中沒有空一行，每一段縮排，中文的縮排是兩個中文字的空間，英文的縮排則是五個英文字母的空間。英文文章縮排的時候不要只用兩個英文字母的空間。

第二種是段落不縮排，但是段落中空一行。

如何分段全篇要一致，不要一段用一種方法，下一段改另一種方法。

縮排縮多大的距離需要固定，不要一段是縮五個英文字母的距離，下一段卻是縮四個英文字母的距離。

空行的時候那一行空間有多大也要固定。有時WORD會因為行距調整的關係，同樣是空一行，跟上下行的距離會不一樣。

degree / level 的用法

• to a degree / to a level 意思為「到某一種程度」或是「就某種程度上來說」，比如說：I am jealous of my beautiful friend to a certain degree. The essay makes sense to a degree. To some degree, I can agree with you.
• a degree / level of N. 意思為「N. 的程度」或是「N. 有一定的程度」，比如說：My teacher gave me a degree of flexibility in deciding my research topic. 我的老師給我某程度的彈性，讓我自行決定我的研究主題。The dolphin demonstrates a degree of intelligence. 海豚展現出某種程度上的智能。When he saw that his daughter was injured, he lost all degree of objectivity. 當他看見他女兒受傷了，他失去了所有程度的客觀性 (他失去所有客觀性)。

at least 的用法

• at least 放的位置，會影響語意。
• They should at least donate 5 dollars.
  at least 是修飾 donate，他們應該「至少捐」五塊錢。
• They should donate at least 5 dollars.
  at least 是修飾 5 dollars，他們應該捐出「至少五塊錢」。

already / often / sometimes / never 等副詞的位置

• 如果有兩個動詞，副詞通常夾在中間，像是 I have already eaten. I have never been to America. I would still like to go to the party. Your computer is already connected to the Internet.
• 如果只有一個動詞，副詞放那邊彈性比較大，像是 I finished my homework already. I already finished my homework. I already have two children. I have two children already. 

​
among / between 的用法

• 國高中英文是說 between two things  / among three or more things，其實不是這樣分的。Among 的確是一定用於三個項目或三個項目以上，但 between 可用於兩個項目，也可以用於三個項目或以上。
• between 之後通常是接獨立的項目，這幾個項目通常有單獨標出，像是 There was a conversation between John, Jason, and Annie. 如果項目沒有單獨標出，則用 among，像是 There was a conversation among three people. 
• A treaty was signed between Brazil and Canada. A treaty was signed among three countries. A treaty was signed between Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. 
• between 也用於範圍的起點跟終點，像是 The study looks at children between the age of 13 and 17. The mountain range is the boundary between Switzerland and Italy. 
• between 也用於表示差別，像是 What is the difference between American English and British English? I cannot see the difference between the twin brothers. 

say that N. + V.  

• 例句：People say that John is a kind man. He said that I should really go to his party.
• 不要加逗號，不要寫 People say that, John is a kind man. 也不要寫 People say, that John is a kind man.
• That 可以省略，所以可以寫 People say John is a kind man. 我通常建議英文學習者不要省略that，句型會比較清楚。
• Say 可以用其它類似的動詞代替，但是有一些「說」的動詞需要受詞，有一些則不需要。比如說：He announced that he was going to university. 這一句announced不需要動詞，句型跟 say that + N. + V. 一樣。但是 He told me that he was going to university. 這一句 told 需要受詞，所以一定要加一個受詞，不能寫 He told that he was going to university.

 
most 的用法

• most of + 複數名詞，意思是很多項目之中的大多數，這是在說明數量上的比例的概念。比如說 Most of the seats are occupied. 座位很多，大部份的座位有人坐了。
• most of + 單數名詞或不可數名詞，意思是一個項目之中的大部份。比如說 Most of the apple is rotten. 意思是蘋果只有一顆，大部份爛掉了。Most of my day was very boring. 某一天，大部份的時間非常的無聊。Most of the sugar is gone. Sugar是不可數名詞，大部份的糖用完了。
• most + adj. 是表示形容詞的最高級，用法跟 –est一樣，不過通常是用在兩個音節以上的形容詞。比如說：He is the most important man in the government. He is the tallest man in the group. This is the most exciting day of my life.
• most + adv. 是表示副詞的最高級。I will most certainly help you. Most importantly, you need to start exercising now.

 
price high/low vs. item expensive/cheap

• 中文是講「某東西很便宜」，也可 以說「價格很便宜」，英文中可以說 The necklace is expensive. ，但是要說 The necklace's price is high. 雖然說一般口說英文可能會出現 the necklace's price is expensive 的說法，這不是正確的英文。

therefore的用法

• He was very late for school, and therefore, the teacher was very angry. 注意這一句其實是兩句話。第一句的主詞是he，動詞是was。第二句的主詞是the teacher，動詞是was。兩個句子用and連結，and前面要有逗號。Therefore之後要有逗號。
• 以上這一句也可以寫為：He was very late for school. Therefore, the teacher was very angry.
• 或是 He was very late for school; therefore, the teacher was very angry. 注意這三句都是連結兩個句子，所以therefore之後一定要加逗號。
• 如果therefore不是連結兩個句子，則可以不加逗號。比如說：He got up late and therefore was late for school. 這裡and是連結兩個動詞 got 以及 was。Therefore之後可加，也可不加逗號。所以這一句寫 He got up late and therefore, was late for school. 也是正確的。
• He was the king and therefore cared much about his people. 這一句and是連結兩個動詞 was 以及cared。這一句要寫　He was the king and therefore, cared much about his people. 也是可以。
• Therefore加不加逗號有時非常的case by case。我通常是建議學生這樣分比較好記：如果therefore之後是一個句子（意思是有主詞有動詞），therefore之後一定要有逗號。如果therefore之後不是一個句子，則加不加逗號都沒關係。
• 不能單獨使用therefore連結兩個句子。比如說：He was a king, therefore he cared about his people. 這一句一定要改為：He was a king, and therefore he cared about his people. 或是 He was a king. Therefore, he cared about his people. 注意標點符號以及大小寫。

 
Not only … but also 的用法

• Not only A but also B，其中A 跟B一定要對等，意思就是要不然是連結兩個句子，要不然連結兩個詞性一樣的東西。
• 連結句子：Not only did he give the beggar money, but he also took the beggar home. 注意not only 那一句需要倒裝，所以句型是 not only + V. + N., but N. also + V.
• but also中的also可以省略，但是but不可以省略。
• 連結兩個名詞：He gave me not only food but also shelter. = He gave me not only A but also B.
• 連結兩個動詞：He not only gave me food but also provided me with shelter. = He not only did this but also did that.
• not only 放在A前面，所以He gave me not only food but also shelter. 中的not only是放在food 前面。He not only gave me food but also provided me with shelter. 中的not only 是放在 gave的前面。
• 連結兩個子句：I chose to go to the party not only because I was done with my work but also because I wanted to see my friends. = I chose to go to the party not only because A but also because B.

 
使役動詞 have/make/let/help + N. + VR

• 使役動詞加原型動詞，只有help比較特別，可以加原型動詞，也可以加 to V
• 例句：What would you have me do? My mother made me do the dishes. Please let me go to the party. I helped her finish her homework. I helped her to finish her homework.
• 中文句子「修讀進階課程，使我的能力提升」，這個句子常常會被翻成：Taking advanced courses makes me improve my ability. 文法上是正確的，但是語氣上有強迫的意味，意思為「強迫我一定得讓能力提升」。這一類意思的make，可改為let，或是allow someone to do something。Let有「允許」的意思，通常是別人「允許你做某件事」。allow則為 「提供機會」或是「我有機會」的意思。這一句用allow改寫會最恰當。Taking advanced courses lets me improve my ability. Taking advanced courses allows me to improve my ability. 

 
so / so that 的用法

• so 是指因此，so that是指目的。
• I did my homework, so I was free for the rest of the evening. 我寫完作業了，因此我剩下來的晚上時段可以做別的事。注意標點符號，so是接一個完整的句子，主詞是I ，動詞是was，so前面要加逗號。
• so子句一定會搭配一個主要的句子，上面這個例子中I did my homework是主要句子。不能單寫 So I was free for the rest of the evening. 如果要分開兩句寫的話，可以寫：I did my homework. Therefore, I was free for the rest of the evening. 非正式英文的確會有用so開頭的句子，沒有主要句子，但是這不是正式英文寫作，建議同學不要這樣使用。
• I did my homework so that I could be free for the rest of the evening. 我寫作業，為了剩下來的晚上時段可以做別的事。注意 so that 直接接名詞跟動詞，前面沒有逗號。

 
because 的用法

• Because 不能單獨成立一個句子，一定會搭配一個主要句子。
• He is angry because I broke his window. 主要句子中的主詞是he，動詞是is，because子句中的主詞是I，動詞是broke。注意because前不要加逗號。
• 以上這一句也可以寫為 Because I broke his window, he is angry. 注意because子句如果寫在前面，結束的地方要加逗號。

 
while 的用法

• While可以當when使用，也可以當對等的觀念的開始。
• While/when he was taking a bath, I finished my homework. 這裡while是when的意思，意思是當他在洗澡的時候，那個時候，我寫完我的作業了。注意while子句不能單獨成立一個句子，一定要搭配一個主要句子，這裡為I finished my homework。主要句子開始之前，一定要有逗號。
• 以上這一句while/when子句可以用 while + N. + V. 的句型，也可以用分詞構句，用Ving。比如說：While taking a bath, I finished my homework. 如果是被動的話，Ving的部份還是得保留，比如說：While the dog was washed, the dog kept on barking. = While being washed, the dog kept on barking.
• 上一句也可以改為：I finished my homework while he was taking a bath. 如果while放在後面，中間不加逗號。
• While的另一個意思是介紹對等的概念。While my friends like watching TV, I really don’t like watching TV.
• 上一句如果while放後面，需要加逗號：I really don’t like watching TV, while my friends like watching TV.

 
but / however的用法

• but 跟 and 一樣，不能用來開始一個英文句子。非正式英文文章之中會有這樣的用法，但正式英文中不會這樣使用，建議同學不要這樣用。
• He really did not want to go to the party. But he went anyway. 應改為： He really did not want to go to the party, but he went anyway. 注意but是連結兩個句子，but前面要加逗號。另一個寫法為：He really did not want to go to the party. However, he went anyway. 注意大小寫，以及標點符號的使用方式。
• 如果but是連結兩個句子，一定要有逗號。如果是連結兩個非句子的項目，逗號可加可不加。He did not seem angry but sang a song. = He did not seem angry, but sang a song.

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