二、段落间的过渡技巧
在写作过程中要注意段落之间的相互联系，考虑段落的连接和转折，采用“启、承、转、合”等手法，恰当而合乎逻辑地把段落连接起来，使段落之间过渡自然、前后照应，否则文章就会显得松散、凌乱，成为几个相互毫无关系的段落。连贯性是英语写作中很重要的一个原则。它是指文章中段落间彼此相互关联，衔接自然，使读者能跟上作者的思路，引导读者自然而然地由上文过渡到下文。这就是为什么在写发展段时，不是一上来就展开论述，而是先写上一个主题句的原因。这个主题句既是对前面一段最后一句的中心思想句的进一步具体化，又能引出本段的讨论，从而同时起到了过渡句的作用。如下面这两段话：
Most of us may have such experiences: when you go to some place far away from the city where you live and think you know nobody there, you are surprised to find that you run into one of your old classmates on the street. Perhaps both of you would cry out, ―What a small world！‖
Why is the world getting smaller and smaller? For one thing, faster and safer means of transport have greatly reduced distance. In the past it took people eight weeks to cross Pacific Ocean, but now an air journey form Shanghai to Now York only takes less than twenty hours.
Why is the world getting smaller and smaller? 这一句子通过重复引言段的中心思想，而使这两段紧密联系起来。
我们再看一例：
It has been a traditional custom for Chinese grandparents to live with their children and grandchildren. But in last decade a growing number of old people have lived apart in their own houses or even in nursing homes. Why do Chinese elderly tend to live alone?
Old people are isolated because of the attitude of the young people and old people as well. First, one generation often feels that its style of living is different from another generation’s style. Both parent and child feel that the other’s presence would upset and change their normal routine. Second, children do not feel a stronger responsibility towards their parents than before. For example, a married son or daughter doesn’t want to burden his wife or her husband with the physical care of their parents, though they pledge their financial support and promise to look in on them.
Old people are isolated because of the attitude of the young people and old people as well.这一主题句通过回答引言段的问题，而使它们两段连接。这也就是为什么在结束了一层意思的论述，开始阐述新一层意思前，先用一个句子或词过渡一下，把它们联系起来。
在段落的结尾或者开头写引起上下文句的好处在于能恰当而合乎逻辑地把段落连接起来，使段落之间过渡自然、前后照应。实际上，文章的三个段落：引言段，发展段和结尾段，引起上下文都有一些固定的句式，大家应注意总结。
第四节 写作常见错误分析
通过前面的论述，我们可以很清楚地看到，很多四级考生写作基本功还是比较薄弱的，从选词到造句到谋篇，总是显得没有章法，漏洞百出。纵使你思路开阔、见解独到、观点新颖，如果整篇文章错误不断，在语言表达上词不达意，又如何能写出令人满意的文章呢？
虽然到了大学四级阶段，每个人都可以说“身经百战”了，做过无数的语法、词汇题目。但事实证明，会做多项选择并不等于会在自己的写作实践中使用，一个英语学习者在语言上的漏洞在写作文时最容易暴露无疑了。
基于此，在本节我们将从用词、造句两个方面对大学英语四级常见错误进行分析并就一些重点问题提出建议。 一、3种选词错误分析
要想写出一篇好的文章，没有大量的词汇积累作为后盾是不能实现的。对于大学英语四级考生来说，通常所掌握的认知词汇量在5000以上。说起来掌握了这么多的词汇，写一篇100多字的作文是游刃有余才是，但事实证明，考生在遣词造句上还是捉襟见肘、漏洞百出。造成这种情况的根本原因就在于很多学生在记单词时只重形不重意，只追求数量不重视质量。对很多词汇的意义掌握不全面，对于具体搭配使用的掌握更是含含糊糊、模棱两可，这种对词汇掌握的不扎实集中表现在分不清大词、小词；书面语、口头语；表达抽象概念的词和表达具体概念的词，等等。对于一些近义词和形似词更是区别不开，一用就错。问题主要表现在以下几个方面：
1. 汉语思维来对译英语词汇，忽略其内涵
例如：错误：If you meet some trouble, you can look for the policeman.
正确：If you meet some trouble, you can turn to the policeman.
错误：Recently he worked very hard and got a big progress in his English learning. 正确：Recently he worked very hard and made a big progress in his English learning.
2. 大词、小词乱用
就大学英语四级考生而言，作文题只限于一般生活和一般常识，因此，在具体写作中，学生应尽量避免使用大词，尤其是生僻的词。有的学生在写作用词上存在误解，一厢情愿地认为如果能使用一些大词、难词会提高自己的作文档次，令阅卷老师对自己的英语水平刮目相看，从而获得较高的分数。于是花费大量的时间和精力去背诵这样的难词，以期在将来的写作中能够用上。殊不知，这样做实在是得不偿失。一来大词本身的特点决定了它们难于记忆并且更容易拼错，如果使用错误，就难以达到预期的效果，相反，如果把同等的时间用于掌握小词，无疑会事半功倍。此外，四级写作考试命题范围本身就决定了写作文体只能是非正式文体。在这样的大环境下，要想用好大词，并使其与整篇作文相融合是很难的。弄不好就会弄巧成拙，事倍功半。试看下面的例子： I comprehended his statement.
While we are eating breakfast, we engaged in an animated conversation. He will come in the even that it stops raining.
事实上，同样的意思完全可以用自然、简练的文字更清楚、明白地表达出来。 I understood what he said.
While eating breakfast, we had a lovely talk. He will come if it stops raining.
纵观四级考生的写作水平，能保证思路清晰、表达通顺、内容完整、没有大的语法错误寥寥无几。为什么要自找麻烦，做这样费力不讨好的事情呢？我们建议考生把有限的时间用
于对核心词汇的掌握，努力做到熟练运用这些最常用的词充分表达自己的思想。 3. 同义词乱用
在大学英语学习阶段，同义词辨析是词汇学习的主要任务之一。事实上，能否确切地分辨并正确使用同义词对英语写作也是很重要的。但是，由于考生不习惯用英语思维，写出的文章往往是从想好的汉语句子一句句翻译过来的，而且在选词的时候往往不经过思考，随便抓来一个就用。殊不知，一个汉语词语有可能对应几个不同的英语词，它们虽然外延基本相同，但它们的内涵却可能不尽相同。例如：
错误：My headache is much better. Those tablets are efficient. 正确：My headache is much better. Those tablets are effective.
错误：Edison persuaded most of the people in the world that his new invention was very
useful in their daily life.
正确：Edison convinced most of people in the world that his new
invention was very useful in their life. 当然，在写作中恰当地使用同义词，可以避免使用同一个词，致使文章显得呆板、单调、乏味。如：
美丽的：beautiful, handsome, attractive, pretty, striking, charming, 首要的：crucial, vital, primal, utmost 原始的：crude, primitive
总之： all in all, in a word, in the large
这些同义词或近义词的使用，使文章不但避免了单调、重复，而且增加了趣味性。 总之，要想有效地提高运用字词的能力，就应该在平时多积累同义词、近义词及反义词，平时多读一些英语时文，多看一些英文报刊、杂志,如 China Daily, 21st Century 等，这对吸收新词汇，扩大词汇量很有益处。平时学习时，也应该注意比较一下同义词、近义词内在的不同含义，分析其具体用法，注意它们的内涵和外延。要想写出地道的文章就需要正确地选词，了解同义词的内涵，不能把同义词乱用。 二、6种常见句子错误分析
我们在造英语句子的时候常会出现一些错误，这些错误主要有以下几种： 1. 非完整句错误
不完整句又叫破句、片语句，是指以完整句的形式出现的部分句子成分或非独立成分。我们知道一个意思和结构完整的句子至少有主语和谓语两部分，当然祈使句除外。若将句子中的某一部分当作一个句子，就会导致非完整句错误。在对学生平常写作练习以及考试试卷的评阅过程中，我们发现在句子的完整性方面学生常常犯以下错误： 1）非独立性从句单独成句
非独立性从句指那些由关系代词(who, whom, whose, which, what , that),关系副词（when, where, how）或从属连词(after, before, although, as, if, because, until, unless 等）引导的句子。这些句子只能在主句中起一个句子成分的作用，因而不能脱离主句而独立存在。一旦脱离主句就会出现不完整句错误。如：
错误：He failed to pass the exam. Which disappointed his parents. 正确：He failed to pass the exam, which disappointed his parents.
错误：We must try hard to learn English well. Because it will be very useful in our future work. 正确：We must try hard to learn English well, because it will be very useful in our future work.
这种错句的修改其实非常简单，只要根据具体情况把从句归属到主句中去就可以了，当然标点和大小写需要做相应调整。对于四级考生来说，在大多数情况下，这一类错误是因为粗心或过于匆忙而用错标点造成的，同时也反映出造错者的语感较差。只要在写作时，多用心一点，并在写完后有针对性地检查一下，就可以有效地减少此类错误的发生。 2）现在分词独立成句
现在分词短语以及它的独立主格结构在句子中往往充当状语，表示原因、目的、结果、伴随状况等。学生对这类结构的掌握普遍不够扎实，应用到写作中更是错误百出。如： 错误：They got up early that morning. Hoping to catch up the 6:30 train to Beijing. 正确：Hoping to catch the 6:30 bus train to Beijing, they got up early that morning. 错误：Gathering speed with enormous force. The plane was suddenly in the air. 正确：Gathering speed with enormous force, the plane was suddenly in the air.
对于现在分词短语形成的不完整句，最好的办法就是改一下标点和大小写，视语义关系的紧密程度把它并入前面或后面一句，使其充当句子的附属成分。当然也可以加上它的逻辑主语，让它真正独立成句。 3) 细节补充独立句
句子的细节补充部分，例如举例、罗列、补充说明等一般是既不含主语也不含谓语的一组词语的罗列，如果以句子的形式出现则肯定是破句。如：
错误：It’s hard to keep with monthly payments. Such as telephone, electric, and gas bill. 正确：It’s hard to keep with monthly payments, such as telephone, electronic, and gas bill.
错误：The class often starts late. For example, yesterday at a quarter past nine instead of at nine
o’clock.
正确：The class often starts late. For example, yesterday it began at a quarter past nine instead of
at nine o’clock.
出现此类错误的学生往往误以为一个句子的主语和谓语可以同时对随后的一组词语起作用。所以提醒考生一定要明确一点：与汉语这种讲究“意合”的语言不同，英语严格要求“形合”，即每一个句子都有自己的主、谓语，否则就被视为错句、不完整句。 4) 无主句
无主句就是缺少主语的不完整句子。如：
错误：Jerry dreamed of the day that he would have lots of money. And would use it to buy a nice
house.
正确：Jerry dreamed of the day that he would have lots of money, and would use it to buy a nice
house.
错误：While sitting in class, she realized she had lost a ring. But happily found it in the women’s
room after class.
正确：While sitting in class, she realized that she had lost a ring. But she happily found it in the
women’s room after class.
这种错误的出现也是由于学生受汉语的影响，误以为既然动作是由同一主体发出，前句的主语就可以同样作用于后句。没有必要再重复了。如果是在一个并列句当中，这种做法无疑是正确的，问题就出在又把它写作了独立的句子。这反映出错者对并列句的掌握不够扎实，同时和其他破句错误一样，没有培养出良好的英语语感也是一个很重要的原因。
总之，要学好英语写作，仅仅研究写作技巧是不够的，必须致力于多读、多背一些好的英语文章，全面提高自己的英语素养，增加语感，用英语思维来代替汉语思维，只有这样才能从根本上提高自己的英语写作水平。 2.主动和被动错误
在句子写作中，要避免语态的转换，而语态的转换又不可避免地造成主语的转换，这些转换都会破坏句子的连贯性，从而使句子显得拙劣、别扭。如：
错误：As soon as the written examination has been finished by the student, he must take the oral
examination.
正确：As soon as the student has finished the written examination, he must take the oral
examination.
错误：We climbed to the top of the mountain and a tent was rented for the night. 正确：We climbed to the top of the mountain and rented a tent for the night.
在英语写作中，尤其是日常写作中，并不提倡使用被动语态，这一点对以英语为母语
的人来讲也是一样的。当然不提倡并不等于绝对不能使用被动语态。在某些特定情况下，被动语态的使用还是相当必要的。例如在表达诸如“据说…”、“据报导…”等没有必要讲出动作发出者时， ―It is said…‖就比 ―People say that…‖或 ―The mass media reported that…‖要简洁、地道的多。
我们建议1）凡是有必要指出动作的发出者时，尽量使用主动语态；2）如果没有必要
讲出动作的发出者时，可以恰当地运用被动语态；3）在一个句子内部一定要避免语态 （及其主语）的转换。
3.主谓不一致错误
主谓不一致是四级考试考生写作中最常见的错误之一，而这一点更多地是一个语法基本功的问题。具体来说有以下几点： 1) 存现句中的主谓一致
存现句中，如果有数个主语并列，动词的数一般与离它最近的一个一致。如： 错误：There are a small bed, a wooden table and two old-fashioned chairs in my bedroom. 正确：There is a small bed, a wooden table and two old-fashioned chairs in my bedroom.
但主语如果是几个并列的单数名词，谓语用复数。如： There are a boy, a girl and a teacher in the classroom. 2) 带修饰语的主语与谓语一致
当一个主语后跟有以with, as well as, together with, like, rather than, except, but, including, accompanied by, besides等词语开始的修饰语时，谓语动词的数只与主语本身保持一致。如： 错误：John as well as the rest have agreed to come. 正确：John as well as the rest has agreed to come.
错误：The Chinese girl together with her two American friends are eating at a restaurant. 正确: The Chinese teacher together with her two American friends is eating at a restaurant.
主语中如果有all of, most of, lots of, some of等修饰限定语，谓语动词的数应与这些词之后的名词一致。如：
错误：Most of the water in this area are polluted. 正确：Most of the water in this area is polluted. 3) 主谓一致问题中的就近原则
由neither…nor, either…or, not only…but also等平行结构做主语时，谓语动词应与离它最近的那部分主语保持一致。如： 错误：Either you or I are wrong. 正确：Either you or I am wrong.
错误：Not only the students but also the teacher have doubts. 正确：Not only the students but also the teacher has doubts. 4) 不定代词做主语时的主谓一致
下列不定代词和复合代词做主语时，谓语一律用单数：one, no one, nobody, nothing, anyone, anything, everyone, everybody, someone, something, each, either, neither, etc.如： 错误：None of her friends have called her up. 正确：None of her friends has called her up.
错误：Everyone in my class like listening to pop music. 正确：Everyone in my class likes listening to pop music. 5) 定语从句的主谓一致 在定语从句中，关系代词who, that, 或which 后的动词要与所指代的先行词在人称和数上保持一致。如：
错误：Jerry is one of the best students that has graduated from Harvard University. 正确：Jerry is one of the best students that have graduated from Harvard University. 错误：Computer can do many tasks which is impossible to do by hand. 正确：Computer can do many tasks which are impossible to do by hand. 6) 集合名词做主语时候的主谓一致