Word Choice
To combine two individual words (e.g., a noun and a verb or an adjective and a noun) into an acceptable word combination, you should be aware of the English word combination constraints of words. This means that a particular adjective can modify only a particular group of nouns, or a particular noun can combine with a restricted set of verbs, or a particular adverb can combine with only a particular group of verbs. For example, in English, the noun "knowledge" can combine with such verbs as "have/gain/acquire/show," while it cannot combine with the verb "learn" as it does in Chinese. This can be explained in the following way. In Chinese, the abstract concept of knowledge is associated with the everyday experience that people have with academic subjects like math, chemistry, or biology that they learn. However, English speakers talk about knowledge as if it were a car or a house that they have, gain, or show.
Study similar examples of differences in the combinatorial constraints between Chinese and English.
Advancements and Achievements
Chinese
ADVANCEMENT/ACHIEVEMENTS ARE DESIRABLE OBJECTS
get/take the advancement/achievements
English
ADVANCEMENT/ACHIEVEMENTS ARE CREATED OBJECTS
make an advancement/achievements
Discrimination
Chinese
DISCRIMINATION IS A DESIRABLE OBJECT
get discrimination
English
DISCRIMINATION IS AN UNPLEASANT ENTITY
experience/face/end/outlaw discrimination
Health and Emotion
Chinese
HEALTH/EMOTION/ONE'S CHARACTER IS AN OBJECT RETAINED IN ONE'S POSSESSION
keep a good mood/health/happy/one's original character
English
HEALTH/EMOTION/ONE'S CHARACTER IS A CONTAINER
be in a mood/good/bad health
Abilities
Chinese
ABILITIES/ONE'S CHARACTER IS OBJECT(S) REQUIRING MAINTENANCE
polish capabilities/one's character
English
ABILITIES/ONE'S CHARACTER IS A CONTAINER
behaving in character; his rudeness was completely out of character
Financial and Social Pressure
Chinese
FINANCIAL/SOCIAL PRESSURE/INFLUENCE/CONVENIENCE IS A TRANSFERABLE OBJECT
give/bring/obtain pressure/habits/effects/ influence/convenience
English
FINANCIAL/SOCIAL PRESSURE IS THE FORCE OF A HEAVY OBJECT LOCATED ON SOMEBODY
put, place, exert pressure
INFLUENCE IS A FORCE
exert influence on; have a direct/profound/strong influence on somebody/something
CONVENIENCE IS AN OBJECT MADE AVAILABLE TO OTHERS
provide convenience
Examples
Study these examples.
- The tuition in the US is more expensive than in China, which will give my parents some financial pressure. (incorrect)
- The tuition in the US is more expensive than in China, which will put some financial pressure on my parents. (correct)
American speakers talk about "some financial pressure" the same way as they talk about an object (e.g., a 65-kilogram bag) that is so heavy that an individual can only carry it on the back/shoulders rather than a small and light object, e.g., a book or flowers that can be handed to an individual.
- The negative side effects that the GMO technology brings to us still cannot be ignored. (incorrect)
- The negative side effects that the GMO technology produces still cannot be ignored. (correct)
American speakers talk about effects the same way as they talk about objects that can be pressed into different shapes, e.g., metal can be shaped into a fork or a spoon rather than objects that can be transferred from one place to another (e.g., a book or a laptop).
Practice
Correct the following.
- Opponents argue that the development in technology brings people many bad habits and causes some dangerous consequences.
- However, when cell phone gives people some convenience, it also brings bad influence to people especially for students.
- As an international student, I came to the USA to learn knowledge here.
- All of these innovations improve the quality of life and take the advancement of our civilization.
- People who do not have a good appearance will get discrimination in the society.