你跟你朋友正手舞足蹈講一個好玩的事情，他突然打斷你，糾正你的語法錯誤，拋開魯莽的打斷不說，你朋友是不是也有些道理呢，語法到底重不重要呢？于是語法和語感到底哪個更重要，就成了一直爭論的話題，一起來看看TED的4分鐘教育動畫，也許你能得到答案。
Does Grammar Matter?
You're telling a friend an amazing story, and you just get to the best part when suddenly, he interrupts, ''The alien and I', not 'Me and the alien''. Most of us would probably be annoyed, but aside from the rude interruption, does your friend have a point? Was your sentence actually grammatically incorrect? And if he still understood it, why does it even matter?
你正在和朋友說一個很精彩的故事，當故事正要到最高潮時，他突然打斷你說“外星人和我（I）”，不是“我（Me）和外星人”。大部分人可能會感到不開心，但除了沒禮貌地插話外，你的朋友說的是否有點道理呢？你說的句子真的有語法錯誤嗎？如果他能聽得懂，那語法不對又有什么關系？
From the point of view of linguistics, grammar is a set of patterns for how words are put together to form phrases or clauses, whether spoken or in writing. Different languages have different patterns. In English, the subject normally comes first, followed by the verb, and then the object, while in Japanese and many other languages, the order is subject-object-verb.
從語言學的角度來看，語法是一套讓單字構成詞組或從句的模式，無論是在口語上還是寫作上。不同語言有不同模式。英文中，主語通常擺第一，后面跟著動詞，接著是賓語，而在日文和其他許多語言中，順序則是主語、賓語，然后是動詞。
Some scholars have tried to identify patterns common to all languages, but apart from some basic features, like having nouns or verbs, few of these so-called linguistic universals have been found.
有些學者嘗試找出所有語言共通的模式，但除了一些基本特性，比如，都有名詞或動詞以外，很少有這些所謂的語言共通性存在。
And while any language needs consistent patterns to function, the study of these patterns opens up an ongoing debate between two positions known as 'prescriptivism' and 'descriptivism'.
雖然任何語言都需要有固定模式才能好好運作，對這些模式的研究引發(fā)了一場關于“規(guī)范論”和“描述論”兩種觀點的持續(xù)爭論。
Grossly simplified, prescriptivists think a given language should follow consistent rules, while descriptivists see variation and adaptation as a natural and necessary part of language.
簡單來說，規(guī)范論者認為一個語言應該遵守一致的規(guī)則，而描述論者則將多樣性和適應性視為語言中正常且必要的一部分。
For much of history, the vast majority of language was spoken. But as people became more interconnected and writing gained importance, written language was standardized to allow broader communication and ensure that people in different parts of a realm could understand each other.
歷史上，語言的主體大多是口語。但隨著人們互動越來越密切以及文字重要性的提升，書面語言標準建立，好讓交流的范圍可以擴大，并確保不同地區(qū)的人們可以互相理解。
In many languages, this standard form came to be considered the only proper one despite being derived from just one of many spoken varieties, usually that of the people in power. Language purists worked to establish and propagate this standard by detailing a set of rules that reflected the established grammar of their times.
在許多語言中，這種標準形式被當成唯一正確的一種，盡管它只是從許多口語種類中選出的一種，并且通常是掌權者的語言。講究語法規(guī)范的人致力于建立并宣傳這種標準，憑借詳細列出的一套規(guī)則，反映當時已確立的語法。
And rules for written grammar were applied to spoken language as well. Speech patterns that deviated from the written rules were considered corruptions or signs of low social status, and many people who had grown up speaking in these ways were forced to adopt the standardized form.
而書寫的語法規(guī)則也被套用在口語上。不符合書寫語法規(guī)則的說話方式被認為是訛用或社會地位低下的象征，許多從小就這樣說話的人被迫接受標準形式。
More recently, however, linguists have understood that speech is a separate phenomenon from writing with its own regularities and patterns. Most of us learn to speak at such an early age that we don't even remember it.
然而，近年來，語言學家了解到口語和寫作是不同的現(xiàn)象，它自有其規(guī)律和模式。多數人在還很小甚至沒有記憶時就學會說話了。
We form our spoken repertoire through unconscious habits, not memorized rules. And because speech also uses mood and intonation for meaning, its structure is often more flexible, adapting to the needs of speakers and listeners.
通過無意間形成的習慣，而非背下來的語法規(guī)則，我們形成了自己的口語能力。同時，因為說話時還會運用情緒及語調來傳達意涵，因而，它的結構常常更為彈性，會隨說話人和聆聽者的需求而改變。
This could mean avoiding complex clauses that are hard to parse in real time, making changes to avoid awkward pronunciation, or removing sounds to make speech faster.
這可能代表著說話時會避免使用很難立刻理解的復雜子句、調整內容來避開難發(fā)出的音，或是省略一些音來讓說話速度更快。
The linguistic approach that tries to understand and map such differences without dictating correct ones is known as descriptivism. Rather than deciding how language should be used, it describes how people actually use it and tracks the innovations they come up with in the process.
試圖理解并標出這些差異性，但卻沒有規(guī)定哪些是正確語法的語言學取向，被叫作“描述論”。描述論不會決定語言應該如何被使用，它描述人們真實使用語言的情況，并記錄這個過程中人們發(fā)明的新用法。
But while the debate between prescriptivism and descriptivism continues, the two are not mutually exclusive. At its best, prescriptivism is useful for informing people about the most common established patterns at a given point in time.
不過，盡管規(guī)范論和描述論之間的爭論仍持續(xù)上演著，但這兩種學說并非互不兼容。規(guī)范論的優(yōu)點就是有助于讓人理解某時期內被最普遍接受的語法規(guī)則。
This is important not only for formal contexts, but it also makes communication easier between non-native speakers from different backgrounds. Descriptivism, on the other hand, gives us insight into how our minds work and the instinctive ways in which we structure our view of the world.
這不僅在正式場合上很重要，也能使來自不同背景的非母語人士溝通起來更輕松。另一方面，描述論則讓我們一窺大腦思考的方式，以及我們本能看世界的方式。
Ultimately, grammar is best thought of as a set of linguistic habits that are constantly being negotiated and reinvented by the entire group of language users. Like language itself, it's a wonderful and complex fabric woven through the contributions of speakers and listeners, writers and readers, prescriptivists and descriptivists from both near and far.
終歸一句，語法被視為一套語言習慣，由所有語言使用者不斷商量并改造和建立。正如語言本身，它是一匹瑰麗且繁復的布料，由講者和聽者、作者和讀者、規(guī)范論者和描述論者以及來自各地的人共同編織而成。
英文語法難難難，你知道難在哪嗎？
1
Parts of Speech 詞性
In English there are several parts of speech:
在英文中，常見的詞性有以下幾種：
Noun 名詞
Pronoun 代詞
Adjective 形容詞
Verb 動詞
Adverb 副詞
Preposition 介詞
Conjunction 連詞
Interjection 感嘆詞
Article 冠詞
Quite often the word will change if it changes it’s function to another part of speech. For example, 'honesty’ noun, 'honest’ adjective, and 'honestly’ adverb.
如果一個單詞要改變詞性，那么這個詞通常會改變其形態(tài)。例如誠實的名詞是'honesty’，誠實的形容詞'honest’，以及誠實的副詞'honestly’，其形式在英文中都不盡相同。
This is not always the case:
但這并非總是如此：
'Many English words can belong to more than one part of speech. Words like neigh, break, outlaw, laser, microwave, and telephone might all be either verbs or nouns. In certain circumstances, even words with primarily grammatical functions can be used as verbs or nouns, as in, 'We must look to the hows and not just the whys.’
許多英語單詞可以擁有多個詞性。像neigh （馬叫; 馬嘶聲），break（休息; 休息的時間），outlaw (逍遙法外; 逍遙法外的人），laser (激光; 發(fā)出激光)，microwave (微波; 使用微波加熱）和 telephone (電話; 打電話）這樣的詞，都可以作為動詞或名詞來使用。在某些情況下，即使是有重要語法功能的單詞也可以用作動詞或名詞，如“ We must look to the hows and not just the whys.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Part_of_speech
In Chinese however, these classifications are even less formally distinguished. Depending on context the word form can stay the same, but have different structural functions. This can make it difficult for student to remember the different word forms in the different parts of speech classifications. Also, the word form may need to change to fulfil the function of the word in the sentence.
然而，在中文中，這些詞性的分類就更加模糊。根據上下文的語言環(huán)境，單詞的形式可以保持不變，但卻具有不同的結構功能。這會讓學生難以記住不同詞性的分類下單詞的不同形式。此外，在一句話中，單詞可能需要變形來實現(xiàn)它的功能。
以下舉例變形錯誤的例子：
'She likes to walk’
'I have not son.’
'He is not doubt about the correct of his a argument.’
'It is very difficulty to convince him.’
Jung Chung, Learner English: A Teacher's Guide to Interference and other Problems (Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers) 2nd Edition
2
Verb Forms 動詞形式
In English there are only two true tenses which are shown below:
在英語中，其實只有兩個真正的時態(tài)。如下所示：
Tenses: Present, Past.
Aspects: Simple, Perfect, Progressive, Perfect Progressive
Voices: Active, Passive
時態(tài)：現(xiàn)在，過去。
語體：一般，完成，進行，完成進行
語態(tài)：主動，被動
Quite often for teaching purposes they are regarded as different tenses due their relationship with time.
為了實現(xiàn)教學目的，它們通常會根據時間關系而被看做不同的時態(tài)。
In English verbs are only inflected in the past and present tenses. For example, In the third person verbs are inflected 'go’ and 'goes. In the past tense 'eat’ changes to 'ate’ or 'eaten’. There is no future tense as modal verbs are used to show the futurity not the verb inflected e.g. 'I will (modal) eat (verb in it’s base form) later.’
在英語中，動詞僅會隨著過去時態(tài)和現(xiàn)在時態(tài)而產生屈折變化。例如，在第三人稱單數情況下，“去”這個動詞從“go”變?yōu)椤癵oes”。在過去時態(tài)中，“吃”這個動詞由“eat”變?yōu)椤癮te”或“eaten”。英文中之所以沒有將來的時態(tài)，是因為情態(tài)動詞被用來表示未來，所以動詞就不受影響，保持原有形態(tài)，例如“I will (情態(tài)動詞) eat（動詞原形）later. ”
Chinese unlike English is a non-inflected language. This can cause several difficulties for the learner:
漢語與英語不同，不是一種屈折語。這會給學習者帶來一些困難：
1、Subject verb agreement 主謂一致
She like eating fruit.
She likes eating fruit.
2、Irregular verb forms 不規(guī)則動詞
I flied to America last week.
I flew to America last week.
3、Complex verb forms 復合動詞
The boy was hurting in the accident.
The boy was hurt in the accident.
3
Time, Tense and Aspect 時間、時態(tài)和體
As mentioned before Chinese doesn't conjugate verbs to show time. Also, aspects can be confusing. For example, the present perfect can be misleading as one function is to relate an event in the past to the present. The learners particularly struggle when to use the simple past tense and the present perfect simple.
如前所述，中文里不會改變動詞形態(tài)來顯示時間。而且，體也是讓人困惑的另一個概念。例如，學習現(xiàn)在完成時的時候，學生可能會產生誤解，因為它其中一個功能就是將過去發(fā)生的事件與現(xiàn)在聯(lián)系起來。尤其是在學習何時應該使用一般過去時和現(xiàn)在完成時的時候，學生會非常困擾。
For example:
例如：
I have seen the movie two days ago.
I saw the movie two days ago.
And with time markers the present simple continuous can be used with future meaning.
這種困擾也體現(xiàn)在用一般現(xiàn)在時去描述未來的事件。
There is a party tonight.
Continuous or progressive tenses can cause problems for Chinese learners.
有時，利用時間標志詞，現(xiàn)在進行時可以表示未來。
I’m playing football tomorrow.
Continuous or progressive tenses can cause problems for Chinese learners.
因此，進行時態(tài)對于中國的英語學習者來說，是一個問題。
What do you listen to?
What are you listening to?
4
Verb Patterns 動詞類型
Transitive and intransitive verbs can cause problems.
及物動詞和不及物動詞有時也會造成困難。
'A transitive verb is one that is used with an object: a noun, phrase, or pronoun that refers to the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb.’
“及物動詞是可以與賓語一起使用的動詞，例如：名詞，短語或代詞，指的是受動詞動作影響的人或事物?！?/p>
In the following sentences, admire, maintain, face, and love are transitive verbs:
在下面的句子中，admire, maintain, face, 和love都是及物動詞：
I admire your courage.
We need to maintain product quality.
An intransitive verb does not have an object. In the following sentences, cry, work, laugh, and talk are intransitive verbs:
不及物動詞沒有賓語， 在下列句子里， cry, work, laugh, 和 talk 都是不及物動詞：
The baby was crying.
I work for a large firm in Paris.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/transitive-and-intransitive-verbs
Learners can use them incorrectly.
學習者通常會錯誤使用。
'He married with a charming girl.’
'She talked a few words with one of the passengers’
Jung Chung, Learner English: A Teacher's Guide to Interference and other Problems (Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers) 2nd Edition
This is made more difficult by the fact some verbs can be both.
事實上，更難的是有些動詞既可以同時作及物動詞， 也可以做不及物動詞。
Verb 動詞 | Transitive 及物 | Intransitive 不及物 |
move | Could you move your car please? | The trees were moving in the breeze. |
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/transitive-and-intransitive-verbs
The verb form can cause problems as well.
不同動詞的形式也會產生問題。
I am boring.
I am bored.
used the present participle instead of the past participle
應使用過去分詞，卻用了現(xiàn)在分詞
I forgot bringing your food.
I forgot to bring your food.
used the present participle instead of the infinitive+to
應使用動詞to do不定式，卻用了現(xiàn)在分詞
He’s used to get up early.
He’s used to getting up early.
used the infinitive + to, instead of a gerund
應使用動名詞形式，卻用了動詞to do不定式
In conclusion, as teachers is important to realize why students are making these errors. We need to design and use activities which provide the students with support to help them overcome these issues from L1 transfer.
總之，作為教師，認識到為什么學生犯這些錯誤是非常重要的。我們需要設計和利用一些活動來支持學生，幫助他們克服母語遷移中出現(xiàn)的這些問題。
聯(lián)系客服
