幾個例子看看英文也講究對仗

本文首發於立文悉通微信公眾號（Transystom）

在重複表達相同意思的時候，句子形式需要變化，這樣不會顯得單調。

When repeating a statement to emphasize it, the writer may need to vary its form. Otherwise, the writer should follow the principle of parallel construction.

如果幾個句子成分在內容和功能上相似，讓它們具有相似的表達形式可以達到更好的閱讀效果。這就是英文中的平行結構（parallel construction）。

This principle, that of parallel construction, requires that expressions similar in content and function be outwardly similar.

Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method, while now the laboratory method is employed.

前半句和後半句在意思上是對應的，可是前面是science作主語，後面又是the laboratory method作主語；後半句的主語對應的是前半句的賓語。對比的效果不太好。

這裡考慮使用parallel construction，讓它們有相似的結構，來加強這種對比的效果，如下：

Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method; now it is taught by the laboratory method.

這樣是不是感覺表達簡明有力了；前後部分句型相似，而且不需要任何連詞，一個分號就搞定了。

分號在英文寫作中非常管用，如果我們覺得兩個句子意思相關，但由於前面已經用了and之類的連詞而不想再用這些連詞了，可以考慮使用分號。

一組單詞中的每一個單詞都和某一個冠詞或介詞搭配時，這個冠詞或介詞要麼只出現在第一個單詞前，要麼出現在每個單詞前。

說起來太拗口，直接看例句吧：

• The treatment group, the model group, and control group had ….

像上面這樣就不行了，一會兒有the一會兒沒the的，要改成下面這樣：

• The treatment group, the model group, and the control group had ….

或者

• The treatment group, model group, and control group had … (第一個the把後面全管了)

• in spring, summer, or in winter

上面這樣也不行，一會兒有in一會兒沒in的，要改成下面這樣：

• in spring, summer, or winter

或者

• in spring, in summer, or in winter)

有些詞常和介詞搭配，如果多個這樣的詞並列使用時，每一個詞所對應的介詞都不能省，除非這幾個詞對應的介詞一樣。

直接看例句吧：

• His speech was marked by disagreement and scorn for his opponents position.

disagreement和with搭配，所以這裡不能把with省略了，要改成下面這樣：

• His speech was marked by disagreement with and scorn for his opponents position.

「both, and」、「not, but」、「not only, but also」、「either, or」、「first, second, third」等常用搭配要接相同的結構，舉例如下：

• It was both a long ceremony and very tedious.

both後是名詞，而and後是形容詞，詞性要相同

• The ceremony was both long and tedious.

• A time not for words but action.

but後加上for才對稱

• A time not for words but for action.

• Either you must grant his request or incur his ill will.

把either放到must後，句子結構更清晰

• You must either grant his request or incur his ill will.

• My objections are, first, the injustice of the measure; second, that it is unconstitutional.

first後是名詞，而second後是句子，不對稱

• My objections are, first, that the measure is unjust; second, that it is unconstitutional.

借鑒改編自《The Elements of Style》