
要學好英語,說穿了,最核心的只有一條,就是多練習。Practice makes perfect,永遠是至理名言。然而,如果單純地背單詞,聽寫,朗讀或刷題,雖然也不是不可以,但一般人都堅持不到大有成效那一天。
所以,最好是在不同的應用語境下反覆練習,比如通過大量輸入來擴大詞彙,關注內容而不僅僅是語言本身,不知不覺中就熟能生巧。而且,如果完整地閱讀一本書,作者所使用的詞彙和表達有較爲統一的風格,很適合在不同語境下的反覆練習。比如,我們閱讀柯茲納的《市場怎樣發揮作用?》(How Markets Work?),這本小書僅有幾萬字,但許多經濟學常用詞彙卻多次反覆出現,還有各種同義替換的表達,如果能較好掌握,經濟學方面的英語能力就可以上一個臺階。
不過,問題是,詞彙可以通過閱讀擴大,但句子分析,語法運用等需要專門的訓練。鑑於中英文的明顯差異,不經訓練,不能指望遇到英文中稍複雜的長句,從頭讀到尾就能準確地知道其含義。而且,不專門訓練,不管讀多少材料,這方面都不會有明顯進步,一看到長難句還是暈頭轉向。要自己說出來,寫出來就更不可能了。據我瞭解,不少人在這方面都有所欠缺。另外,詞彙雖然不需要死記硬背,但也需要總結和拓展,比如總結其派生詞,同義詞,近義詞,同根詞等,舉一反三,可收事半功倍的效果。
那麼,具體怎麼做呢?
以下面的句子爲例:
The Austrian School of economics has received renewed attention in the past few decades as its free-market policy conclusions and association with libertarianism have played a growing role in academic and public debate.
這是《奧派經濟學入門》第一章的第一句。
第一步,掃清詞彙障礙。
這句話中的主要詞彙包括:Austrian School, economics, renew, attention, decade, free-market, policy, conclusion, association, libertarianism, academic, debate.
比如 economics
economics /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks/ or /ˌekəˈnɒmɪks/
n. The branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth. 經濟學
例句: Economics plays a crucial role in shaping government policies.
經濟學在制定政府政策中起着至關重要的作用。
派生詞adj. economic adv. economically n. economist
近/同義詞 finance, commerce
這裏有個問題,爲什麼economy不是economics的派生詞?這個問題就留給讀者們了。
其他詞彙略。
第二步,句子結構分析。
這句話相對比較簡單,由主句+as引導的原因狀語構成,分別分析如下:
1. 主句 (Main Clause):
The Austrian School of economics has received renewed attention in the past few decades.
主語 (Subject): The Austrian School of economics
謂語 (Predicate): has received
賓語 (Object): renewed attention
時態 (Tense): 現在完成時 (Present Perfect)
語態 (Voice): 主動語態 (Active Voice)
時間狀語 (Temporal Adverbial): in the past few decades
2. 從句 (Subordinate Clause):
引導詞 (Conjunction ): as
its free-market policy conclusions and association with libertarianism have played a growing role in academic and public debate.
類型 (Clause Type): 原因狀語從句 (Causal Adverbial Clause)
主幹 (Main Structure): its free-market policy conclusions and association with libertarianism have played a growing role
主語 (Subject): its free-market policy conclusions and association with libertarianism
謂語 (Predicate): have played
賓語 (Object): a growing role
時態 (Tense): 現在完成時 (Present Perfect)
語態 (Voice): 主動語態 (Active Voice)
地點狀語 (Locative Adverbial): in academic and public debate
第三步,精講重點語法。
這句話中主要語法點有兩個:現在完成時態和as引導的原因狀語從句
一、現在完成時態 (Present Perfect Tense)
現在完成時用於表示從過去開始,一直延續到現在的動作或其對現在的影響。它強調動作在過去發生,但與現在相關。
主語 + have/has + 過去分詞 (Past Participle)
用法:
1.表示過去某個動作對現在的影響:
She has finished her homework.
解釋: 作業已經完成,影響現在——她現在不用再做作業了。
2.表示從過去開始並持續到現在的動作或狀態:
They have lived in this city for ten years.
解釋: 他們從十年前開始住在這座城市,並一直住到現在。
3. 表示某個時間段內重複發生的動作:
We have visited that museum several times.
解釋: 在某個過去到現在的時間段內,去過那家博物館多次。
例句:
1. The Austrian School of economics has received renewed attention in the past few decades.
2. She has studied French since she was a child.
常用時間狀語: since, for, just, already, yet, ever, never, recently
二、as 引導的原因狀語從句 (Causal Adverbial Clause with “as”)
as 引導的原因狀語從句用於解釋主句動作發生的原因或理由。
用法:
表示主句動作發生的原因,可以放在句首或句中
As it was raining, we stayed indoors.
We stayed indoors as it was raining.
因爲下雨了,我們待在屋裏
例句:
1. As the traffic was heavy, we arrived late.
2. As the store was closed, we couldn’t buy what we needed.
3. As I forgot to set an alarm, I overslept this morning.
然後順便做個小練習,用現在完成時態+as引導的原因狀語從句造句(答案略)
1. 由於她已經完成了作業,所以她現在可以出去玩了。
2. 因爲他們已經看過這部電影,他們決定不再去電影院。
3. 由於他們已經提前計劃好了行程,他們的假期非常順利。
4. 因爲我已經喫過午飯了,所以我現在不覺得餓。
第四步,學習常見的搭配。
1. in the past few decades 過去的幾十年
例句: The company has expanded significantly in the past few decades.
2. play a role (in) 在某事中起到作用。
例句: Technology plays an important role in modern education.
3. free-market policy 自由市場政策。
例句: The government is adopting a free-market policy to encourage competition.
4. association with 與……的聯繫。
例句: The scientist’s association with the university has lasted for over 20 years.
第五步,翻譯和改寫
翻譯(對高考四六級考研考博等特別有用):過去幾十年裏,奧地利經濟學派重獲關注,因爲它支持自由市場的政策結論以及與自由意志主義的聯繫在學術辯論和公共辯論中發揮了越來越大的作用。
改寫(對雅思等特別有用):In the last few decades, people have paid more attention to the Austrian School of economics because its ideas about free markets and connection to libertarianism have become more important in both academic and public discussions.
第六步,對話
根據句子內容設計了一個討論奧派經濟學現狀的簡短對話,可以分角色練習。
A: Have you heard of the Austrian School of economics?
B: Yeah, I’ve heard it’s been getting more attention recently.
A: Right! Especially because of its free-market ideas. A lot of people are talking about how it’s linked to libertarianism.
B: I see. Do you think their policy conclusions can really work in today’s world?
A: Yeah, I do. I believe the free market is still the most efficient way to promote economic growth. It’s definitely a hot topic in academic debates.
第七步,互動練習
這部分的練習包括句子分析,翻譯和改錯等,當場練習並講解指正(題目略)。
從我的經驗來看,這種方式對於強化英語基礎,特別是應對各種英語考試非常有效。
當然,需要特別說明的是,這裏練的主要是語言的形式,而語言是內容的載體,不能脫離內容而單獨存在。在有一定英語基礎後,還是需要大量輸入和適當輸出,以真正掌握和熟練運用。所以,基本功專項訓練配合雙語閱讀,才能達到最好的效果。