中英文在描述事情时，是完全不同的用法，很多习惯了中文的思维，导致描述时不完美。中文强调普遍的东西，而英语思维方式则倾向于具体的东西。
本文详细讲解下中英文描述的差异与用法，前文是理论，后半部分讲例子。
一个简单的原则：信、雅、达。做到这个原则水平不会差的了。好比炒菜，讲究的是“色香味”合一。
既涉及到“描”(describe)也涉及到“述”(narrate)，同时也涉及到描述的目的--传达意义(meaning)，也就是所谓的阐释(illustrate)。
“描”(description)是向人静态地展现外界留给你的印象；“述”(narration)是向人动态地展现事情的发展及过程；“阐释”(illustration)则是通过具体的例子揭示事物或抽象观念的意义(meaning)。
“细节性思维”+“清晰的逻辑结构”是掌握英语描述的关键。
所谓“细节性思维”指的是每当你要表达的时候，要求自己引用具体的东西来支撑你的表达或使你的表达具体化、清晰化，这也就是英文中总强调的突出“要点”(point)的意思。
欧美人描述东西则是使用“清晰的逻辑结构”，就是有一个法则一样，一般来说是三个部分构成：
A 事件的开始导引(the lead)
B 事件的经过(the flow of events)
C 事情的收尾(the end)
中英文不一样的开头
在导引里，你可以展示一个问题(set out a problem)、引入一个新的情况(introduce a novel situation)、提出某种挑战(pose a challenge)、抛出一个令人吃惊的东西(pop a surprise)、问一个问题(ask a question)或者提及你的最初印象(initial impression)。
导引只是提供必要的而不是全部的背景，不可铺垫过长，一定要选择有代表性的时刻切入；“事件的流程”在描述中起着最重要的作用，因为所有相关的事件都在这一步按照一定的方式被组织成有意义的、有序的主干(logical sgroupsof events)；“收尾"是完成描述的最后一步，收尾的时候一定要回应“导引”，解决了这个问题(resolve the problem)、展示了新情况要么向好要么向坏的变化(show the change of situation for better or worse)、成功或失败地回应了挑战(succeed or fail in responding to the challenge)、解释了令人吃惊的东西(make the surprise understood)、回答了问题(answer the question)、进一步印证或推翻了你的最初印象(prove or fail to prove your initial impression)。
两大差异点
汉语思维习惯按照先后顺序一一展现。西方人则使用“自然时间序列”(natural sequencesgroupsin time)，按照讲述者的主观时间序列来一一展现。
例子：中西方人是如何描述北京的
汉语思维--先介绍北京的历史、文化背景，然后抵达北京，北京现代化吸引了你，你见到了北京的熟人，熟人要你一定去看看长城，你看到了长城的美丽，最后你依依不舍地告别北京返回家乡。
英语思维--网上看到北京的美吸引我前往，你抵达北京，你见到了北京的熟人，熟人要你一定去看看长城，你研究并熟悉了长城的历史，你依依惜别地离开了北京，最令你难以忘怀的是你看到长城的美丽。
英语不好的人说完一句不知道如何接下一句，以至生拼硬凑，想说什么说什么，让自己跟着感觉走。
其实英语思维中连接两个句子的模式不外乎这样几种：
1 句子A直接导向句子B(A leads to B.)；
2 句子B和句子A正好相反(B is the opposite of A.)；
3 句子A和句子B同属一个相关的事件群(A and B both belong to the samesgroupsof related events.)；
4 事件A发生在事件B身上(A happens to B.)；
5 事件A之所以发生是因为事件B(A happens because of B.)。
千万别画蛇添足
千万不要在一个描述中试图说太多的事情，学会只选择一件事情来说(talk about only one thing)。另外，要保证你描述中的每一句话紧紧扣住主题(stick to your subject)，不要涉及毫不相关或关系不大的其他细节(focus on the one thing)。收尾要出人意料、引人入胜(make the end interesting)。
例子
例一：Can computers in the classroom ever replace teachers? (the lead)
——同意或反对意见
——举出事实和数据 logical flow
——相互争论观点
"Sure, computers can help kids learn," Bob says, looking at the rows of blinking screens in his classroom, "but I'd take a good teacher without computers over a poor one with computers, every time." (the end)
例二：(1) 对一只宠物狗的两种描述
版本一
We have a dog. Her name is Beauty. She is a bulldog (一种脖子粗，性凶猛的狗). She has a pretty face. She likes to catch rats.
评点：这一描述中出现的事件太多，不集中。Too many things about a pet dog!
版本二
One night when I was about to go to bed, my dog Bud gotsintosthe kitchen. He saw a box of cornstarch (淀粉) on the shelf. He jumped up and knocked it all over himself. In the morning when I saw Bud, he was as white as a ghost.
评点：只围绕一件事描述。Focus on one event. Stick to the subject.
例三 描述一个星期六
版本一
Saturday I helped my mother clean house. Then I ran on some errands(跑腿办事). When father came home at noon, he gave me ten bucks(美元). In the afternoon I went to a movie. The movie was terrible. I didn't enjoy it so much as the one I saw last Saturday. Next Saturday I am going again.
评点：描述乏味，事件太多，多数句子没能紧扣主题，结尾无趣。Subject is not interesting. Not all the sentences stick to the subject. Too many things. The ending is boring.
版本二
Saturday my brother Tom said he would teach me to skate. So he let me take hold of a stick. Then he would pull me along. Once he let go of me. He thought it was fun to see me fall, but I didn't see the joke.
评点：题材有趣，所有的句子围绕滑冰一件事来说，结尾出人意料。
Interesting subject. Every sentence is talking about skating. The ending gives surprise.
例四 描述放学回家的过程
版本一
Yesterday I went home from school. I saw many cars. I also saw some large trucks. I went home with my brother. We were very late when we made it home.
评点：事与事之间无联系，没有统一的主题。
版本二
Yesterday noon I saw a girl who had trouble with her car. She stopped at a street crossing (路口). When the traffic cop signaled(给信号) to go, she couldn't start(起动). There was a long line of cars behind her. After a while she finally started her car. I think she was frightened to death.
评点：主题突出，句子紧凑，只围绕一件事说，结尾有总结性观点。
训练英文描述能力三原则
A 想清楚要表达的主题。
B 用逻辑流程图展示描述的结构，并且检验这一结构是否有效地组织了事件。
C 用有意思的细节扩展完成这一流程图。
