論文寫作中常出現的語法問題
1. 主語和謂語的單數和複數要一致
英語中名詞有它的單數和複數形式，動詞也有它的單數和複數形式 , 二者要一致 . 單數主語 ( subject) 名詞要用動詞 (verb) 的單數 (singular) 形式 , 複數主語名詞要用動詞的複數 (plural) 形式 . 我們寫中文的不太習慣英語的這種寫法 , 很難做到不假思索地配對 , 需要特別 留心才能不出錯誤， 特別是當主語名詞和動詞被分開時 . 試看下面的例句 .
a high percentage of peptides that are made of amino acids are present in the sample.
a high percentage 才是真正的主語， 而不是鄰近的 amino acids , 所以應該用單數形式 .
宜改為 : a high percentage of peptides that are made of amino acids is present in the sample.
讓事情更復雜的是英語名詞被分為不同的種類， 其中的一類叫集合名詞 . 它既可以當單數用詞也可以當複數用 . 集合名詞當整體 來講時是單數，每個成員作為個體時用複數 .
the number of mice in the experiment was increased.
a number of mice have died.
all of the samples were analyzed.
all of the safety procedures was strictly followed.
代詞 none 既可以是單數也可以是複數 . 當 none 後面的詞是單數時 , 用單數動詞 . 當 none 後面的詞是複數時， 用複數動詞 .
none of the information was useful.
none of the animals were starved.
描寫數量， 重量，體積，時間等的詞用單數， 但如果是分次添加或減少時用複數 . 在這個意義上同 集合名詞類似 .
1.5 ml was added.
10 g was added .
6 hours was the required incubation time.
5 g were added stepwise.
簡寫的數量單位， 如 mg, ml, s 等， 單數和複數的寫法是一樣的 , 如 1mg, 5 mg.
一些詞如 series, type, portion, class, 要用單數形式 .
a series of derivatives of penicillin was prepared.
a large portion of the reports is focused on how to deal with the increased cost.
data, criteria, phenomena, media 是複數形式， 他們的單數形式分別是 datum, criterion, phenomenon, medium.
2、修飾語同主語名詞關係上要一致
當用 1 ) 動名詞 (gerund) ， 2) 分詞短句 (participle) ， 3) 不定式短句 (infinitive) 作修飾語時， 修飾語中的動詞要同主句中的主語名詞關係 上 要 一致 .
科技雜誌論文中有這種語法錯誤的情況較多 . 嚴格來講這只是種語法錯誤， 一般不影響對句子 的內容的理解， 所以很多作者不 太注意 . 編輯和閲稿人有時也沒有嚴格要求改正 . 比如下面就是 nature 雜誌 XX 年第 439 卷中的一個例子 .
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.
1) 動名詞
after finishing the purification, the activity of the isolated compound was then studied.
we or i 是動名詞 finishing 形式上的主語， 同主句的主語 activity 不一致 .
宜改為 : after purification was finished, the activity of the isolated compound was then studied.
或 : after finishing the purification, we studied the activity of the isolated compound.
treated with the new drug, the blood cholesterol levels of participants were lowered by an average of 30%.
宜改為 : treated with the new drug, participants showed an average of 30% decrease in their blood cholesterol levels.
2) 分詞短句
the iron concentration was determined using the fenton reaction method.
the iron concentration 同 using the fenton reaction method 關係上不一致 .
宜改為 : the iron concentration was determined by the fenton reaction method.
或 : we determined the iron concentration using the fenton reaction method.
when measuring the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide, air samples from a remote place, such as an island, is preferred.
宜改為 : when the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide is measured, air samples from a remote place, such as an island, is preferred.
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.
不定式短語的形式主語是 we or i ， 同主句主語 population 不一致 .
宜改為 : 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.
宜改為 : to confirm the diagnosis, the doctor ordered blood test.
3.主語和主語的行動(謂語)在邏輯上要一致
由於一些中文和英文的表達方式不同， 把中文直接翻譯成相應的英文會不講 . 一個經常被引用的語句是 “price is cheap ”. 中文可以 説價格便宜 , 但英文只能説價格高或低 . 物品可以説 cheap or expensive. 用中文的表達方式來寫英文 , 會出現 主語和主語的行動在邏輯上 不 一致 . 在寫一個句子時要注意行動的真正主語名詞是什麼 . 下面是一些例子 .