上方藍色「簡潔的原理」直接關注
China informed the United States on Friday to close its consulate general in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, a move that officials in Beijing said they took in response to the US administration's decision to abruptly order the shutdown of China's consulate in Houston, Texas.
點評
1. on Friday的位置
這種時間狀語位置很靈活，句首居中句末都可以放，但報紙報導放句子開頭還是比較少見。不管放哪兒，第一是要保證意思明確無生歧義：英文寫作點評 | 中國日報頭版新聞2020-05-19
匆忙寫作，難保不出紕漏。這讓人想起沒有標點的古書，某個字究竟是當屬上讀還是當屬下讀。舉幾個例子，或許對有心做古文翻譯的同學有所啟發和幫助。
例一：《詩·周頌·天作篇》
彼徂矣岐有夷之行：
彼徂矣，岐有夷之行。
彼徂矣岐，有夷之行。
例二：《漢書·卷五十四李廣傳》
是時廣軍幾沒罷歸：
是時廣軍幾沒，罷歸。
是時廣軍幾沒罷，歸。
例三：《論語·顏淵篇》
子貢問政子曰足食足兵民信之矣子貢曰必不得已而去於斯三者何先曰去兵：子貢問政子曰足食足兵民信之矣子貢曰必不得已而去。於斯三者何先曰去兵子貢問政子曰足食足兵民信之矣子貢曰必不得已而去於斯。三者何先曰去兵回到這段英文文字。這兒的on Friday是屬上讀還是屬下讀？
China informed the United States on Friday, to close its consulate general
China informed the United States, on Friday to close its consulate general
on Friday位置變一變會更好。
China on Friday informed the United States
China informed on Friday the United States
當然，China informed the United States on Friday也可以，但這要講到inform的用法了。
2. inform
我們常見inform的搭配是兩種：
（1）inform sb. about/of sth.：
Please inform us of any change of address as soon as possible.
（2）inform sb. that:
We regret to inform you that your application has been rejected.
如果你不小心用inform sb. to do sth.就出錯了：
× Please inform your messenger to wait.
但可以改為tell、ask、instruct來表示。如果一定要用inform，那就用inform that：
√ Please inform your messenger that he should wait.
這段文章裡的China informed the United States on Friday to close its consulate general可以這麼修改：
(1) China informed the United States on Friday that it should close
(2) China informed the United States on Friday that its consulate general ... should close
由inform這個「通知某人做某事」想到我們還經常用錯的一個詞suggest：建議某人做某事。
「建議某人做某事」不是suggest sb. to do sth.
《簡潔的原理》（英文版）說得很清楚（第189-190頁）：
Suggest is often followed by a gerund or a that-clause. Avoid this use: 「suggest someone to do something.」
× Her uncle suggested her to get a job in a bank.
√ Her uncle suggested getting a job in a bank.
√ Her uncle suggested that she get a job in a bank.
《簡潔的原理》（英文版）只在【清北復交】微信小店和淘寶店銷售