一篇好文章的條件很多。除了內容豐富和組織緊密之外，辭彙的運用和句子的處理，也起著決定性作用。句子可長可短，同一件事，可以用不同的句式表達。如果句子清一色是簡單句，文章必定很單調乏 味。如果全篇充滿了冗長的複雜句，讀起來也很費力。
最好的方法是以簡單句為基礎，配合適當的並列 句和複雜句。簡單句可長可短，通常要加些附屬成分，如分詞短語、介詞短語、副詞短語、不定式動詞 短語，以及節縮成分。總之，作者可根據情況，使句子多樣化，使文章靈活多姿。例如下列五個句子的基本概念一樣，但 是句式不同，內容重點也有些差別：
(1) the goats grazed peacefully in the farm and were unaware of the approaching hunter. (並列分句(1)+2)
(2) grazing peacefully, the goats in the farm were unaware of the approaching hunter. (現在分語短語+簡單句)
(3) in the farm, the goats grazed peacefully and were unaware of the approaching hunter. (副詞短語+並列分句(1)-(2) )
(4) there were goats grazing peacefully in the farm, unaware of the approaching hunter. (簡單句+形容語短語)
(5) as the goats grazed peacefully in the farm, they were unaware of the approaching hunter. (原因副詞從句+主句)
(6) the young pilot was on his first overseas training.
(7) he felt very uneasy.
(a) the young pilot on his first overseas training felt very uneasy.
(b) the young pilot felt very uneasy during his first overseas training.
(c) the young pilot’’’’’’’’s first overseas training made him feel very uneasy.
(d) extreme uneasiness seized the young pilot on his first overseas training.
(e) the young pilot was on his first overseas training, feeling very uneasy.
(f) it being his first overseas training, the young pilot felt very uneasy.
(g) being on his first overseas training, the young pilot felt very uneasy.
(h) the young pilot was on his first overseas training and felt very uneasy.
(i) the young pilot, who was on his first overseas training, felt very uneasy.
(j) when the young pilot was on his/first overseas trainging, he felt very uneasy.
(k) as the young pilot was on his first overseas training, he felt very uneasy.
(l) the young pilot was on his first overseas training, so that he felt very uneasy.
在上述12個句子中，(a)-(g)是簡單句；(h)是並列句；(i)-(l)是複雜句。簡單句除(b)和(g)之外， 其他五樣，用的人並不多。人們最喜歡採用複雜句，尤其是(j)和(k)這兩款；接著便是並列句(h)。如果 大多數人的句子只限於(b),(g), (h), (j)和(k)這五種，而其他的則棄如敝屣，不是很可惜嗎？
增強英語語句表現力的有效方法
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、儘量運用主動語態。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. [page]
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.