Instruction Manual

User’s Guide SYSTRAN 5.0 174
Ensuring Subject-Verb Agreement
Number disagreement, such as between subject and verb, occurs when there is a
prepositional phrase or more than one item or action in a sentence. It is important to
remember that a prepositional phrase does not affect the number of the subject and
the verb.
Example
Instead of: The icon resets and come back into operation.
Use: The icon resets and comes back into operation.
Rule: Use a consistent number (singular or plural) for the subject and verb in a sentence
Using Prepositions
Prepositions are often hard for MT to analyze for scope when used in coordinated
expressions. It is stylistically better and improves MT results to repeat prepositions in
coordinated expressions.
Example
Instead of: When the problem occurs it can be fixed by starting Windows 95 in “Safe Mode” and
removing the driver in the Network Control Panel
MT Output: Quand le problme se produit il peut tre fixé en démarrant Windows 95 en "Safe
Mode" et enlever le pilote au Panneau de configuration de Network.
Use: When the problem occurs, it can be fixed by starting Windows 95 in “Safe Mode”
and by
removing the driver in the Network Control Panel.
MT Output: Quand le problme se produit, il peut tre fixé en démarrant Windows 95 en "Safe
Mode" et en enlevant le pilote au Panneau de configuration de Network.
Using Infinitives at the Beginning of Sentences
When using a subordinate conjunction with an infinitive, the clause must be clear.
Use an unambiguous conjunctive expression.
Example
Instead of: To find out who is approved to maintain your User Dictionary you can look up the list
Users.
Use: In order to find out who is approved to maintain your User Dictionary you can look up
the list Users.
Rule: Start subordinate phrases with a conjunction. Use “in order to” instead of “to” if
the subordinate clause begins with an infinitive.