英语论文写作技巧-1
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主语和谓语的单数和复数要一致
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英语中名词有它的单数和复数形式，动词也有它的单数和复数形式 , 二者要一致 . 单数主语 ( subject) 名词要用动词 (verb) 的单数 (singular) 形式 , 复数主语名词要用动词的复数 (plural) 形式 . 我们写中文的不太习惯英语的这种写法 , 很难做到不假思索地配对 , 需要特别留心才能不出错误， 特别是当主语名词和动词被分开时 . 试看下面的例句 .
- A high percentage of peptides(肽) that are made of amino acids(氨基酸) are present in the sample.
- A high percentage 才是真正的主语， 而不是邻近的 amino acids, 所以应该用 单数形式
- 宜改为 : A high percentage of peptides that are made of amino acids is present in the sample.
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让事情更复杂的是英语名词被分为不同的种类， 其中的一类叫集合名词 . 它既可以当单数用词也可以当复数用 . 集合名词当整体来讲时是单数，每个成员作为个体时用复数.
- The number of mice(老鼠) in the experiment was increased.
- A number of mice(老鼠) have died.
- All of the samples were analyzed.
- All of the safety procedures(程序) was strictly followed.
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代词 none 既可以是单数也可以是复数.当none后面的词是单数时,用单数动词.当none后面的词是复数时.用复数动词.
- None of the information was useful.
- None of the animals were starved.
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描写数量，重量，体积，时间等的词用单数，但如果是 分次 添加或减少时用复数. 在这个意义上同集合名词类似.
- 1.5 ml was added.
- 10 g was added .
- 6 hours was the required incubation time.
- 5 g were added stepwise. 强调分批次加入材料
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简写的数量单位， 如 mg, ml, s 等， 单数和复数的写法是一样的 , 如 1mg, 5 mg. 一些词如 series(系列), type(类别), portion(部分), class(类别), 要用单数形式.
- A series of derivatives of penicillin(青霉素的衍生物) was prepared. (series)
- A large portion(一部分) of the reports is focused on how to deal with the increased cost(成本的增加). (portion)
- Data(数据), criteria(标准), phenomena(现象), media(媒体) 是复数形式， 他们的单数形式分别是 datum, criterion, phenomenon, medium.
修饰语同主语名词关系上要一致
- 当用 1 ) 动名词 (gerund) ，2) 分词短句 (participle) ，3) 不定式短句 (infinitive) 作修饰语时，修饰语中的动词要同主句中的主语名词关系上要一致 .z这种情况很多出现在修饰句使用分词或动名词做主语，而主句使用被动语态的时候
- 科技杂志论文中有这种语法错误的情况较多 . 严格来讲这只是种语法错误， 一般不影响对句子 的内容的理解， 所以很多作者不太注意 . 编辑和阅稿人有时也没有严格要求改正 . 比如下面就是 Nature 杂志 2006 年第 439 卷中的一个例子 .
- Using the enhancer GAL4/UAS expression system, short-term memory traces of aversive and appetitive olfactory conditioning have been assigned to output synapses of subsets of intrinsic neurons of the mushroom bodies.使用增强子GAL4 / UAS表达系统，已经分配了厌恶和食欲嗅觉调节的短期记忆痕迹来输出蘑菇体的内在神经元的子集的突触。 分词中使用的是we或I作为主语，但是后面是短期记忆痕迹作为主语。
- (1)动名词
- After finishing the purification, the activity of the isolated compound was then studied.
We or I 是动名词 finishing 形式上的主语， 同主句的主语 activity 不一致 .
宜改为 : After purification was finished, the activity of the isolated compound was then studied. (将After前的分句加上谓语)
或 : After finishing the purification, we studied the activity of the isolated compound.(将后面句子的主语保持和分句一致) - Treated with the new drug, the blood cholesterol levels of participants were lowered by an average of 30%
宜改为 : Treated with the new drug, participants showed an average of 30% decrease in their blood cholesterol levels.
- After finishing the purification, the activity of the isolated compound was then studied.
- (2) 分词短语
- The iron concentration was determined using the Fenton reaction method.
The iron concentration 同 using the Fenton reaction method 关系上不一致 .
宜改为 : The iron concentration was determined by the Fenton reaction method. 被Fenton reaction method确定
或 : We determined the iron concentration using the Fenton reaction method. 我们使用Fenton reaction method确定 - When measuring the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide, air samples from a remote place, such as an island, is preferred.
when分句中的主语为人we或I,但是后面的句子是用被动语态，air samples才是主语
宜改为 : When the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide is measured, air samples from a remote place, such as an island, is preferred.
- The iron concentration was determined using the Fenton reaction method.
- (3) 不定式短句
- To further investigate the potential role of biking in causing infertility, an expanded population of biking athletes was surveyed.
不定式短语的形式主语是 we or I ， 同主句主语 population 不一致 .
宜改为 : To further investigate the potential role of biking in causing infertility, we surveyed an expanded population of biking athletes. - To confirm the diagnosis, blood test was ordered.
宜改为 : To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor ordered blood test.
- To further investigate the potential role of biking in causing infertility, an expanded population of biking athletes was surveyed.
主语和主语的行动(谓语)在逻辑上要一致
- 由于一些中文和英文的表达方式不同， 把中文直接翻译成相应的英文会不同 . 一个经常被引用的语句是 “price is cheap ”. 中文可以说价格便宜 , 但英文只能说价格高或低 . 物品可以说 cheap or expensive. 用中文的表达方式来写英文 , 会出现主语和主语的行动在逻辑上不一致 . 在写一个句子时要注意行动的真正主语名词是什么.下面是一些例子 .
- The highest antibiotic production was obtained at 48 h.
不是 production 而是 production yield.
宜改为 : The highest antibiotic production yield was obtained at 48 h. (在48小时获得最高的抗生素产量) - The scavenging activity for hydroxyl radicals was based on Fenton reaction. (羟基自由基的清除活性基于芬顿反应)
不是 activity 而是 assay of activity
宜改为 : The assay of scavenging activity for hydroxyl radicals was based on Fenton reaction. (羟基自由基清除活性的测定基于芬顿反应) - The pharmacological compounds of ginseng were identified.(鉴定了人参的药理化合物)
药物活性化合物应该是 pharmacologically active compounds.
宜改为 : The pharmacologically active compounds of ginseng were identified.(鉴定了人参的药物活性化合物)
- The highest antibiotic production was obtained at 48 h.
代名词和其代理的先行词要一致
- 代名词和其代理的先行词要在人称 ,单数或复数,和性别上一致.一些常见的代词是: he, his (阳性单数); she, her (阴性单数); it, its (单数); they, their, these, those (复数); that, this (单数). 比如下面的例句中 , compounds 和 their 一致 , protein 和 it 一 致 .
- Many related compounds were synthesized and their antivirus activities were studied.
合成了许多相关化合物，并研究了它们的抗病毒活性。
Growth hormone is a protein. It promotes human body growth.
生长激素是一种蛋白质。 它促进人体生长。 - 下面的例句中,the 应该用 their 取代 .
The potential antioxidant capacity of compound A and compound B could be deduced from the protective effects against oxidative stresses.
化合物A和化合物B的潜在抗氧化能力可以从对氧化应激的保护作用中推断出来。
宜改为 : The potential antioxidant capacity of compound A and compound B could be deduced from their protective effects against oxidative stresses.
- Many related compounds were synthesized and their antivirus activities were studied.
- 用代名词时 除了要保持一致外,还要避免代理不清的情况出现,以免不清楚它们到底指什么而引起误解． 通常是前句有and的情况以致于不知道后句的代名词的含义
- The crude sample was dissolved in water and extracted with organic solvent. It was then evaporated to yield the product.
It 指 organic layer 还是指 water layer? 不明确，最好不用 it.
宜改为： The crude sample was dissolved in water and extracted with organic solvent. The organic layer was then evaporated to yield the product. - During meal hormones are released after which blood flow increases in the stomach.
在用餐期间，释放激素，之后胃中的血流增加。
Which 既可以代表 meal 也可以代表 hormones, 容易产生误解 .
宜改为： During meal hormones are released. After their release stomach blood flow increases.
- The crude sample was dissolved in water and extracted with organic solvent. It was then evaporated to yield the product.
位置的强调作用
- 在英语写作中，若要强调某件事情，就把它放在句子的前面 .中文写作中 ,有关句子的条件 , 时间等的修饰句都是放在前面， 而主句总是放在后面 . 而英文中即可以把条件或修饰句放在前面，也可以放在后面.放在前面就表示你要强调修饰句的条件 . 比如:
- Before the hurricane arrived, most of the people have moved out.
- Most of the people have moved out before the hurricane arrived.
- 在英语中两种位置关系都可以 . 前者强调在 hurricane 来之前， 后者强调 moved out . 而在中文中，只有一种说法， 反过来说 ” 大多数人都离开了，在hurricane来之前 ” 就不对了. 按中文的位置关系直译成英文, 往往会不确切. 同样按英文的位置关系直译成中文也是怪怪的
- 我上小学的孩子回家来喊 “我要吃冰激凌今天, 我没吃好长时间了”, 就是英文 “I want ice cream today. I have not eaten it for a long time.” 的直接翻译.
- 科技写作中，一般还是把主句先写出来 ，除非你想强调修饰的是条件
- Through scavenging free radicals, antioxidants play an important role in protecting against complex diseases.
抗氧化剂通过清除自由基在防止复杂疾病方面发挥重要作用。
宜改为： Antioxidants play an important role in protecting against complex diseases through scavenging free radicals. - In microbial fermentation, phosphorus is commonly the major growth-limiting nutrient.
在微生物发酵中，磷通常是主要的生长限制营养素。
宜改为： Phosphorus is commonly the major growth-limiting nutrient in microbial fermentation.
- Through scavenging free radicals, antioxidants play an important role in protecting against complex diseases.
- 主动句中事情的执行者 ( 作者 ) 放在前面， 有强调事情的执行者 ( 作者 ) 的意思 , 而不是要研究的事物 . 被动句强调要研究的事物 , 这也是 为什么科技论文中被动句用得比较多的原因 之一.
- We studied their effects on cell growth. 强调 We.
Their effects on cell growth were studied. 强调 Their effects.
- We studied their effects on cell growth. 强调 We.