縱觀多年來國家四、六級英語(論壇)作文考試，考生作文成績欠佳的主要原因除了準確性和連貫性差之外，語句軟弱無力也是不容忽略的一個方面。因此在英語寫作教學中，如何增強語句表現力的問題必須引起我們足夠的重視，以提高學生寫作的表達質量。為此，筆者結合自己的寫作教學實踐，針對該項技能的訓練提出了一些切實可行的有效做法，供廣大同仁和英語學習者參考借鑒。
一、避免使用語意弱的「be」動詞。
1、把句中的表語轉換為不同的修飾語。例如：
Weak: The trees are bare. The grass is brown. The landscape seems drab. Revision:The brown grass and bare trees form a drab landscape. (轉換為前置定語)
Or: The landscape, bare and brown, begged for spring green. (轉換為並列結構作後置定語)
2、將作表語用的形容詞或名詞變為行為動詞。例如：
1) Weak: The team members are good players.
Revision: The team members play well.
2) Weak: One worker’s plan is the elimination of tardiness.
Revision: One worker’s plan eliminates tardiness.
3、在以「here」或「there」開頭的句子中，把「be」動詞後的名詞代詞變成改寫句的主語。例如：
1) Weak: There is no opportunity for promotion.
Revision: No opportunity for promotion exists.
2) Weak: Here are the books you ordered.
Revision: The books you ordered have arrived.
二、多用語意具體的動詞，保持句意簡潔明瞭。例如：
1、Poor: My supervisor went past my desk.
Better: My supervisor sauntered (=walked slowly) past my desk.
2、Poor: She is a careful shopper.
Better: She compares prices and quality.
三、盡量運用主動語態。例如：
1、Weak: The organization has been supported by charity.
Better: Charity has supported the organization.
2、Weak: The biscuits were stacked on a plate.
Better: Mother stacked the biscuits on a plate.
四、防止使用語意冗長累贅的詞語。例如：
1、Wordy: My little sister has a preference for chocolate milk.
Improved: My little sister prefers chocolate milk.
2、Wordy: We are in receipt of your letter and intend to follow your recommendations.
Improved: We have received your letter and intended to follow your recommendation.
3、Redundant: We had a serious crisis at school yesterday when our chemistry laboratory caught fire.
Improved: We had a crisis at school yesterday when our chemistry laboratory caught fire.
4、Redundant: My sister and I bought the same, identical dress in different stores.
Improved: My sister and I bought the same dress in different stores.
五、杜絕濫用陳舊詞語或難懂的專業術語。例如：
1、Weak: They will not agree to his proposals in any shape or form.
Improved: They will not agree to any of his proposals.
2、Weak: I need her financial input before I can guesstimate our expenditures next fall.
Improved: I need her financial figures before I can estimate our expenditures next fall.
