當你開始讀多益考試時,是否看到一整頁閱讀測驗的文章就頭昏了?要克服閱讀英文長句,第一步可以試著從句子的「結構」切入。

英文句子無論多長,只會有「一個主詞」和「一個動詞」,它們是構成句子含義的基本要素。

舉例來說,如果今天看到這個句子:

As part of a push to expand business abroad, the enterprise translated its website into multiple languages.

  • 抓出主詞、動詞,句子最核心的含義是:the enterprise translated its website(該企業翻譯了它的網站)
  • 再加入一些細節:the enterprise translated its website into multiple languages(該企業將它的網站翻譯成多種語言)
  • 再加入更多細節訊息:As part of a push to expand business abroad, …(作為推動拓展海外業務的一部分,……)

如果只是按照原本的語序 (word order) 來讀句子,可能會抓不到這個句子的核心重點,而主詞動詞就可以幫你快速掌握重點。

至於常見的修飾語有形容詞、副詞、介系詞片語、不定詞等,所以在讀句子時也可以在這些地方斷句:

As part of a push / to expand business abroad, / the enterprise / translated its website / into multiple languages.

如此一來不僅可以抓到重點,在說英文時,也可以自然地停頓。

學會了嗎?最後,我們再用一個句子來練習抓重點和斷句:

At the company’s annual banquet, Mr. Karga received an award for his distinguished record of community outreach projects.

可以先自行練習再往下看答案喔!

  • 抓出主詞和動詞:Mr. Karga received an award(Karga 先生獲獎)
  • 可以在這些地方斷句:At the company’s annual banquet, / Mr. Karga / received an award / for his distinguished record / of community outreach projects.

原文發表於:創勝文教電子報 202311 / 01 期・Nov 1