在英文寫作中，不少同學時常忽略了consistency（連貫）的重要性而導致時常犯錯。今天特別與同學們探討兩個有關的問題：consistency of verb tenses（時態）and pronouns（代名詞）。
忌時態不一致
簡單來說，這是指同學在寫作時不應在沒有原因的情況下突然改變verb tenses。例如：
1. I went to the library and I borrow some books. （由past tense 轉為present tense）
2. Lowering the intake of salt is the future trend, since reduced consumption of salt led to the reduced possibility of developing diseases like hypertension（高血壓）, heart diseases and kidney diseases. （由present tense 轉為past tense）
當然，這並不是指在同一句子中一定不能轉換tenses，倘若有需要的話，亦未嘗不可。不過，轉變應基於充分的理由。
勿代名詞混亂
Pronouns用於取代名詞，在一句句子中如有多個pronouns，倘若那些pronouns指向同樣的名詞，那麼pronouns應該是相同的。例如：
3. When we talk about dieting, things are often easier said than done. We all know that we should avoid eating late-night snacks. Yet, how can you avoid the temptation of crispy chips, and the sweet aroma of chocolate cakes? How can you allow yourself to sleep on an empty stomach?
Besides, we are supposed to reserve some time to do exercises every week. However, during the school's terms, it's almost impossible for students to get enough sleep; exercising, as it appears to him, is nothing less than a luxury. That explains why dieting remains a far-fetched dream for most people.
從以上的段落，你可以看到亂用pronouns的問題。文中作者首先運用we，後來改為you和him，導致文中的point of view變得非常混亂。■Dr. A. Chan，哲學博士，哲學碩士，英語講師。熟悉公開考試之出題模式與評分準則，任教英語。
Exercise
Revise the underlined words such that they are grammatically and logically correct.
1. When we talked about dieting, things are often easier said than done. We all know that we should avoid eating late-night snacks. Yet, how can you avoid the temptation of crispy chips, and the sweet aroma of chocolate cakes? (talk) (we)
2. During the school's terms, it's almost impossible for students to get enough sleep; exercising, as it appears to him, was nothing less than a luxury. (them) (is)
隔星期三見報