在 B2 水平,让英语听起来更高阶的最快方法,不是学习生僻词,而是停止使用那些含糊笼统的词。Good、bad、nice、thing 和 very 在学习者的口中承担了巨大的表达任务,而在母语者口中却几乎派不上什么用场。
「very + 形容词」结构的问题
Very 本身就是一个信号:说明存在一个更精确的词。
| 笼统 | 精确 |
|---|---|
| very tired | exhausted |
| very hungry | starving |
| very surprised | astonished |
| very important | crucial, vital |
| very interesting | fascinating |
| very difficult | demanding, tricky |
| very angry | furious |
| very happy | delighted, thrilled |
| very small | minute, negligible |
| very old | ancient |
| very clean | spotless |
| very sure | certain, convinced |
比较一下:The deadline is very important. → The deadline is crucial. 第二种说法既更短,也更有力。
替换「good」和「bad」
这两个词几乎不传达任何具体信息。「好」到底是哪方面好?
- A good idea → a sensible / promising / brilliant idea
- A good meal → a delicious meal
- A good employee → a reliable / capable employee
- A bad decision → a poor / reckless decision
- A bad result → a disappointing result
Thing、stuff、nice 和 get 也是同样的问题,它们在学习者的表达中占据了极大的比重。The thing we discussed → the proposal we discussed。It's a nice place → it's a quiet place / a welcoming place / a beautiful place——这是三种完全不同的表述,而 nice 把它们全部压缩成了同一个意思。
选择合适的语域
精确不等于正式。要根据场合选择合适的词:
The results were disappointing.(中性、商务化)
The results were rubbish.(非正式,在工作场合中显得太尖锐)
两个词都很精确。但写进报告里,只有一个是合适的。
动词比形容词更有分量
高阶写作者不仅会强化形容词,还会强化动词。
- We made the process better. → We streamlined the process.
- Sales went up a lot. → Sales surged.
- He said he disagreed. → He objected.
- The company got three new clients. → The company acquired three new clients.
一个精确的动词,常常能顶替三个笼统的词。
尤其是引述性动词
Say 几乎什么都能表达,却什么都表达不精确。下面这些动词每一个都不只传达说了什么,还传达了说话人的意图:
| 代替 said | 使用场合 |
|---|---|
| pointed out | 提醒对方注意某个事实 |
| admitted | 承认对自己不利的事 |
| insisted | 不顾阻力反复坚持 |
| warned | 警告某种风险 |
| suggested | 提议,而不是断言 |
| claimed | 声称某事,但你并不为此担保 |
注意 claimed 所起的作用:He said the figures were wrong 是中性的;He claimed the figures were wrong 则悄悄地带上了一层怀疑的意味。
数量和确定程度上的精确
笼统的数量表达和笼统的形容词一样,都会付出代价:
- a lot of people → the majority of respondents · roughly two-thirds
- some problems → three recurring problems
- It's very likely. → It's almost certain. · It's plausible.
一个提醒
不要一味追求最长的词。Utilise 并不比 use 更好;commence 也不比 start 更好。精确指的是选一个和意思完全吻合的词;有时候,这个词恰恰是又短又常见的那一个。
精确关乎读者得到的结论,而不是你词汇量的大小。 A poor decision 和 a reckless decision 都很精确,但它们向读者传达的信息不同:一个是运气不好,一个是行事鲁莽。在两者之间做出选择,本质上是在判断你真正想表达的是什么。这也是为什么单凭一本同义词词典反而会毁掉一段文字。
如何养成这个习惯
写完东西之后,找出每一个 very、good、bad 和 thing,问问自己到底想表达什么。只在确实有更好的词时才替换。坚持几周,这就会变成一种本能。
同一份报告的两种写法
It was a very good meeting. We talked about some things that are very important, and got a good result.
It was a productive meeting. We resolved the two outstanding issues, and agreed a deadline.
发生的事情完全相同,篇幅也几乎一样长,但只有第二个版本让人清楚地知道到底发生了什么。
自我检测
下面的测验要求你选出最精确的表达,而不是最长的那个。