二、句子结构—词组、从句和修饰语

● 词组和从句的位置

这里提到了语序对句子重点的影响，要记住的一个点是，在英语中一句话最重要的要点在句子的结尾，次重要的要点在句子的开头。如果不知道这一点就会把时间状语、地点状语等放错位置从而使得读者搞不清楚句子的重点。

错误:But as we have often said, the future is bright,although the road ahead is tortuous.

正确:But as we have often said,although the road ahead is tortuous, the future is bright.

[比起道路是曲折的，前途是光明的更重要。]

错误:The students shouted the slogans "Oppose hunger!" and "Oppose civil war!" as they marched.

正确:As they marched, the students shouted the slogans "Oppose hunger!" and "Oppose civil war!"

还有几个常见的句型，重点都在句子结尾。

"I meant not this but that."

"Instead of doing this, they did that."

"Rather than rely on this, we should rely on that."

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● 孤立的修饰语

这一部分的重点是，如果句子中有修饰主语的分词（现在分词和过去分词）、动名词、动词不定式、形容词、介词短语等，要在逻辑和语法上跟主语保持一致。如果不一致，就会出现孤立的不合逻辑的修饰语。

错误: Many scattered liberated areas were linked up,enabling the people's armed forces to take the initiative militarily.

正确: Many scattered liberated areas were linked up,which enabled (or: which made it possible for) the people's armed forces to take the initiative militarily.

错误:Suffocated by huge debts and over-staffing, more than 25, 000 workers, one quarter of the firm's total, have been persuaded by decision-makers in the enterprise to give up their original jobs in the mines.

正确:Since the enterprise was suffocated by huge debts and over-staffing, its decision-makers have persuaded more than 25, 000 workers, one quarter of the total, to give up their original jobs in the mines.

错误: The world is vast and things are complicated, but after analyzing the situation, there are only a few people who support war, and most people want peace and oppose war.

正确: The world is vast and complex, but if you analyze the situation you will find there are only a few people who support war; most people want peace.

错误:To reach a more objective conclusion, he said, historical, cultural, and other backgrounds of the ethnic groups should be considered when studying religion in China.

正确:To reach a more objective conclusion, he said,people studying religion in China should consider the history and culture of the various ethnic groups and other aspects of their background.

在这里可以看出语法知识的重要性。不要轻视语法，这样的小细节就可以体现出你的英语水平。