英語修飾語位置錯誤

以前曾討論過名詞修飾語的種類和用法。在談到修飾語用法時，未免要牽涉到修飾語的位置。這點相當重要，因為修飾語不管是單字的或短語的或甚至是分句的，它們都要定位，不可越雷池一步，否則不是語意模糊，就是不合句法。

下面這則室內設計商的廣告，有兩個小缺點。一個是同義詞重復;另一個便是修飾語位置不妥：

“We fabricate our products from the best quality materials available and ensure refinement in the finishing works while keeping your cost at the lowest possible prices. ”

先談同義詞的重復。在“while keeping your cost at the lowest possible prices”中，把“prices”改為“level”即可。如果要品味好些，可把“possible”挪到“level”后頭，即：“ While keeping your cost at the lowest level possible.”

現在談修飾語位置問題。

在“We fabricate our products from the best quality materials available”中，形容詞短語“best quality”漏了介語 “of”：“of best quality”。這樣的短語一定要擺在被修飾的名詞后面，即：“We fabricate our products from the materials of best quality available”;不然，就把“quality”去掉，只留住“best”也可：“We... from the best materials available.”

上述這兩種小毛病雖然不是很普遍，但是也會碰到。看看這幾個實例就知道了：

① Do you know the man who talked to you in a white shirt?

這里的形容詞短語“in a white shirt”和所修飾的名詞“the man”離開太遠，不妥當，要移前：“Do you know the man in a white shirt who talked to you ?”

② A dog is a good helper that is well-trained.

這里的形容詞分句“that is well-trained”修飾名詞“the dog”，不是“a good helper”，因此要和正確的對象靠攏：“A dog that is well-trained is a good helper.”

名詞修飾語的位置重要，動詞修飾語的位置也不可馬虎。例如：

③ The Board of Directors only has meeting once a month.

這里的副詞“only”顯然是要修飾“once a month”，那么就應該把它移過去：“The Board of Directors has meeting only once a month.”

④ The man needed a bandage for his wound badly.

這里的狀態副詞“badly”修飾動詞“needed”。既然如此，它就要移到“needed”之前：“The man badly needed a bandage for his wound.”

⑤ Though the standard of living is raised, the costs of living are increasing also.

習慣上，“also”這個位置屬于“too”的;“also”可以到“ are increasing”中間去;

“Though the standard of living is raised, the costs of living are increasing, too.”或

“Though the standard of living is raised, the costs of living are also increasing.”