重视构句能力和语篇意识,提高英语运用水平

在日常的英语学习中,许多同学做单项选择题时出错较少,但在运用英语、特别是进行写作时错误百出。有些同学很难准确地用英语写出地道、流畅的句子,更谈不上高层次的英语写作了。所以,强化构句意识,培养构句能力,是提高同学们英语写作水平和综合运用语言能力的基础,只有重视在语篇中研究句子使用,才能真正提高语言表达能力。现简要介绍一些做法,希望对同学们有所帮助。

一 运用所学知识,提高构句能力

(一)巧背课文,巧析课文,充分利用教材和日常接触的英语学习材料。

在日常的学习中,很多同学花费不少时间背诵课文或写作范文,但却不明白背诵的目的是什么,很多同学为背而背,认为背完了也就“完成”任务了。背诵只是浅层次的学习,应该在理解、熟读或背诵课文的前提下,认真分析篇章结构,了解短文的写作特点,精心学习较为高级的词、短语或句子,将所接触的新知识为己所用,像根据语境模仿造句可以增加语言积累,为提高英语写作能力打好基础。例如:在外研版必修5 Module 4 Great Scientist一文中有这样一句话:As a result of Yuan Longping’s discoveries, Chinese rice production rose by 47.5 percent.此处出现了较高级的短语as a result (of),学生应通过仿照例句造句,反复训练,直到能举一反三,熟练会用。如:

他的粗心大意,导致期中考试失败。

①As a result of his carelessness, he failed in the mid-

term examination.

②He was very careless, as a result, he failed in the mid-term examination.

发散思维

③His carelessness led to his failure in the mid-term examination.

④His failure in the mid-term exam resulted in his carelessness.

⑤His carelessness caused him to fail in the mid-term examination.

(二)通过句式变换,培养综合运用所学语言的能力,提高构句能力。

(1)昨晚我到你家的时候,你碰巧不在家。

①You happened to be out when I called on you last night.

②It happened that you were out when I called on you last night.

(2)他今天没来参加晚会,因为他得照顾生病的妈妈。

①He did not come to the party today, because he had to look after his sick mother.

发散思维

② Because of attending his sick mother, he did not come to the party today.

③ The reason why he did not come to the party today was that he had to take care of his sick mother.

(3)他们不可能走远,人们刚才还看见他们在大树下棋。(主动、被动的转换)

①They cannot have gone far away, for people saw them playing chess under the tree just now.

②They cannot have gone far away, for they were seen playing chess under the tree just now.

(4)铃声一响,同学们就冲着去拿外套往家奔去。

①As soon as the bell rang, everyone would run for their coats and go home.

发散思维

②Upon the ringing of the bell everyone would run for their coats and go home.

③No sooner had the bell rung than everyone would run for their coats and go home.

④The moment/ minute/ instant the bell rang everyone would run for their coats and go home.

⑤Scarecely/ Hardly had the bell rung when everyone would run for their coats and go home.

(三)正确使用学过的语法知识表达思想,提高英语素养。

①How I wish I had wings and could fly in the sky.(虚拟语气的实际运用)

②Not knowing what to do, we had to ask the teacher for help.(分词)

③On the top of the building stands a little child crying in the cold wind.(介词短语放在句首,要倒装)

④In order to get a good result in the English speech contest, the students are trying their best to make a good preparation.

⑤Frankly speaking, I don’t think what he said at the meeting makes any sense at all.(现在分词)

⑥Given the chance, I would do it better.(过去分词的实际运用)

⑦Not until last night did he realize the conference had been postponed.(否定词放在句首,倒装结构)

⑧I found my mobile phone where I put it.(where引导的地点状语从句)

(四)正确理解简单句和主从句的内涵,并能得体地运用。

从简单句的五种基本句型的用法,到主、从句的各种变化,从省略到让步状语从句的运用等,都是提高构句能力的有效训练方式。如:

①This is the first time that I have been to the Great Wall.(定语从句)

②I won’t attend the party unless invited(unless I am invited).(条件状语从句)

③Child as he is, he has mastered more than 4,000 English words.(让步状语从句)

二 强化语篇意识,提高连贯表达的能力

无论是一则对话还是一篇短文,它们都不是互不相干的句子的简单堆积,而是一些意义相关的句子为达到一定的交际目的并通过一些连接手段而实现的有机结合。因此,只有加强语篇学习和研究,才能真正提高英语运用能力。

1.加强英语阅读,注意语言积累。要掌握扎实的词汇、句型和语法知识,就要注意不断阅读,丰富语言体验,加强在语境中对语篇和语义的领悟与把握能力。应从培养语感入手,结合语言知识的学习,把握语言形式和语言内容,通过语境体验、语篇把握的语言实践,逐步将已掌握的语言知识内化为一种语言意识和语言能力。在阅读的过程中,应把材料中那些原汁原味的引人入胜的句子记录下来,并能模仿使用,久而久之,语言运用能力必然会得到较大的提高。

2.在进行写作训练时,应仔细研究篇章结构,要明白如何开篇、发展、收尾,如何使文章具有连贯性和整体感,如何突出中心观点,既要保证句子和句子之间相互衔接与连贯,段落与段落之间前后照应,还要实现文章整体布局的和谐发展,同时也要注意文体风格和语言形式的使用,以便更好地表达文章的中心思想。要注意准确地使用过渡词,如:besides, instead(of), however, but, although, now that, since, so, first, second, finally, in the end, as a result等。准确、合理地运用这些词汇或短语,能为文章添彩。如:

①Albert Einstein didn’t stay in Germany any more. Instead, he went to America to work on.

②Although Albert Einstein became famous, he was still easy to get along with.

3.请阅读下面的短文:(1)注意黑体词的用法,并能仿照例句造句;(2)分析短文的语篇结构,找出短文的主题句和二、三段的主题句,研究作者是如何提出问题,分析和解决问题并概括全文的。

The large number of our population has become one of the most serious problems of our society. According to a recent survey of the National Bureau of Statistics, there are more than 1.3 billion people in our country, which account for about one fifth of all the people in the world. The same survey also predicts that our population will grow quickly in the years to come.

Overpopulation has brought about a series of side effects to our economic development and social security. In the first place, too many people impose a heavy burden on our environment. As a result, we suffer from a shortage of fresh water and natural resources. In the second place, as the supply of labor greatly exceeds the demand of the society, many people become unemployed. This is a source of social unrest. Last but not least, we have to manufacture all kinds of products to meet the needs of the people, which causes environmental pollution to our lakes and land.

Serious though the problem seems to be, we have to take some measures to solve it. On the one hand, the government should carry out more strictly the policy of family planning, thus reducing the total number of population. On the other hand, all the people should realize the harm of overpopulation. With the great efforts of all the parties concerned, we’re sure to solve the problem in the future.