縱觀多年來國家四、六級英語作文考試，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. (轉換為并列結構作后置定語)
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”動詞后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，保持句意簡潔明了。
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。
