[文法] 十項英文常犯文法錯誤 10 Common Grammar Mistakes

喬今天幫各位整理常犯文法錯誤之中文版以及自己以前批改學生作業的經驗，在這邊跟各位同學做分享，祝各位寫作越來越好：



1. affect與effect的混淆
這兩個字往往造成很大的響應，因為太多人把他們搞錯了。於是來好好講解一下。
[1] effect (n.) = a change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause 「效應」、「影響」
例1: The radiation leak has had a disastrous effect on/upon the environment.
例2: I tried taking tablets for the headache but they didn’t have any effect.
例3: I think I’m suffering from the effects of too little sleep.

[2] effect (V.) = cause (something) to happen; bring about 「使(某事)發生：導致」切記不是「影響」的意思，許多字典上也會告知讀者不可以跟”affect”混用
例: The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.

[3] affect (V.) = have an affect on; make a difference to 「影響」「侵襲」「感染」「打動」
例1: Both buildings were badly affected by the fire. 「侵襲」
例2: The divorce affected every aspect of her life.「影響」
例3: It’s a disease which affects mainly older people.「侵擾」
例4: I was deeply affected by the film. (= It caused strong feelings in me). 「打動」
*以上例句採自”dictionary.cambridge.org”與“dictionary.com”

2. 把than寫成then
這點真的超多人會寫錯：than是「比」的意思；而then是「然後、接著」的意思
(O) His dog is more adorable than mine.
(X) His dog is more adorable then mine.

3. fewer與less的用法搞混
要闡述”比較少”的概念，這兩個詞常常被搞混
fewer (adj.) + 可數名詞 He keeps fewer dogs than I do.
less (adj.) + 不可數名詞 He had less soup than I did.

* 值得一提的是，如果是想要用”number”這個詞來表達”較少的數目”，可以說”smaller number”，為何用”smaller”呢？根據維基百科( goo.gl/f3vRxA)，對於number要使用fewer還是less似乎有不少的爭議，可自行前往該網站觀覽，但是smaller number是不會錯的用法。

4. 搞混few, a few, little, a little的用法
這四個字詞的確很繞口，但是只要把握大原則就不會用錯了。
few (adj.) = nearly nothing 幾乎沒有 + 可數名詞
a few (adj.) = some but not many 很少 + 可數名詞
little (adj.) = nearly nothing 幾乎沒有 + 不可數名詞
a little (adj.) = some but not much 很少 + 不可數名詞

5, 分詞構句前後主詞不一致
例： (X) Bursting into tears, I tried to comfort Nancy.
這句話的中文翻譯會變成：
「當我嚎啕大哭，我嘗試著去安慰南希。」整個變得很奇怪而且沒有邏輯，分詞構句使用正確是加分的，但是主詞不一會變得很難懂。
(O) When Nancy burst into tears, I tried to comfort her.

6. 常常會把lie與lay搞混了，其實很多美國人也會搞混，所以多注意吧！lie (V.) 說謊
lay (V.) 放置; 鋪設

"說謊": lie-lied-lied (現在分詞:lying)
"躺": lie-lay-lain (現在分詞:lying)
"放置": lay-laid-laid (現在分詞:laying)

7. 使用雙引號的時候，句號逗錯地方，逗號要逗在雙引號裡面：
(X) “You are fabulous”.
(O) “You are fabulous.”

8. 否定的”也”，要用”nor”不用”not”
例: He didn’t go to the party, nor did I.

9. everyday與every day
everyday是形容詞，表示每天的；every day是副詞，表示每日、每天
(O) He wakes up at 8: 00 every day.
(X) He wakes up at 8:00 everyday.

10. 搞混Borrow跟lend的用法，兩者的差別其實很好記！
borrow (V.) 借入
take and use (something that belongs to someone else) with the intention of returning it
lend (V.)  借出
grant to (someone) the use of (something) on the understanding that it shall be returned


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