
在科学写作中,下列哪个句子是正确的?
The replies which came from five students were transcribed and translated.
The replies that came from five students were transcribed and translated.
The replies, which came from five students were transcribed and translated.
The replies, which came from five students, were transcribed and translated.
在这些句子中,在宾语“The replies”和“were transcribed and translated”之间都包含“定语从句”。从句是带有动词的短语,上面的定语从句用关系代词“that”或“which”引导,与“The replies”相关联,可进一步说明“The replies”。虽然句子(1)和(2)对某些作者来说意思相同,但是应该避免使用句子(1),因为该句可能有两种含义:句子(2)或(4),容易引起歧义。
如果想通过给出具体的细节来定义名词,请使用“that”。句子(2)是正确的,在句子(2)中,“The replies that came from five students…”,作者暗示还有其他人(例如,老师)或其他学生(例如,三个、四个或六个学生组成的小组)的回复。只有来自五个学生组成的小组的答复被记录和翻译。“that came from five students”这一从句有助于确定具体的“replies”,是一个限定性从句。
使用带一对逗号的“which”来提供附加信息。句子(4)是正确的,在句子(4) 中,“The replies, which came from five students,…”,一对逗号之间的定语从句可以删除而不改变要表达的信息(“The replies…were transcribed and translated.”)。“which came from five students”这一从句是非限定性从句。作者只是简单地告诉我们更多的关于答复的信息,并且不存在其他的答复。
句子(3)不正确,在非限定性定语从句后面缺少第二个逗号。如句子(4)所示,需要一对逗号。但是,也有“which”前加一个逗号的情况,可用在句尾宾语后面引导非限定性定语从句(“We transcription and translated the replies,which came from five students”)。
作者介绍:
Dr. Trevor Lane
理文编辑教育总监、高级出版顾问
世界医学编辑协会会员和国际出版伦理委员会(COPE)委员,在学术论文写作、投稿与审稿、同行评审等领域有丰富的经验。
语法和标点符号是被期刊拒稿的首要原因。为了确保您稿件的语言做好了发表的准备,您应该在您的研究领域内找一个以英语为母语的专家,对稿件的科学表达进行语法、清晰度和准确性的编辑。