Improving Your Sentence Structure.docx

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1、Improving Your Sentence StructureProblems with SentencesSentence FragmentsA sentence fragment is not a complete sentence. It usually lacks either a subject or a verb, or both, or contains only a dependent clause.Example:a. For example, three dogs and a goat.b. Studying too hard on weekends, (no subj

2、ect - who was studying?) c. Because I couldn t find my shoes, (contains a subject and verb, but is a dependent clause)Run-on Sentences: Fused sentences and comma spliceExample /:The experiment failed it had been left unobserved for too long.Example 2:The experiment failed, it had been left unobserve

3、d for too long.To correct a fused sentence or a comma splice error, you can use either a period, semi-colon, colon, coordinating conjunction, or subordinating conjunction.Revision:The experiment failedL It had been left unobserved for too long.The experiment failed it had been left unobserved for to

4、o long.The experiment failedi it had been left unobserved for too long.The experiment had been left unobserved for too long, so it failed.The experiment failed because it had been left unobserved for too long.A comma splice also occurs when commas are used before conjunctive adverbs (therefore, howe

5、ver, nevertheless, moreover, etc.) connecting two sentences. Example 3: NO:The experiment had been left unobserved for too long, therefore it failed.YES:The experiment had been left unobserved for too long; therefore, it failed.YES:He wasnt prepared to defend a client who was guilty; however, he cou

6、ld he persuaded to accept a bribe.NOTE: When the conjunctive adverb is within the clause rather than at the beginning, place it between commas.Example:He wasn 7 prepared to defend a client who was guilty; he could be persuaded, however, to accept ci bribe.Correct the following run-on/comma splice se

7、ntences using the method indicated.a. A newly arrived international student faces several challenges, for example, he or she has to cope with a new culture.b. New York City is very cosmopolitan, people from many cultures and ethnic groups live there.3. Loose SentencesA loose sentence may result if y

8、ou use too many “and connectives when other conjunctions would convey a more precise meaning.Example:John had a weight problem, and he dropped out of school.No:Many students attend classes oil morning, and then they work all afternoon, and they also have to study at night, so they are usually exhaus

9、ted by the weekend.Yes:Many students attend dosses all morning and work all afternoon. Since they also have to study at night, they are usually exhausted by the weekend.OR: Because many students attend classes all morning, work all afternoon, and study at night, they are usually exhausted by the wee

10、kend.TaskImprove these stringy sentences.1. He enrolled in an intermediate calculus class, but he found it too easy, so he dropped it, and he signed up for the advanced class.2. First-born children in a family often have more responsibility than their younger siblings, and they feel pressure to set

11、a good example, so they often become superachievers.3. Last-born children, on the other hand, often have little responsibility, and they may be pampered as the baby of the family, but they are the smallest, and they have to get people to like them, so they often develop superior social skills.4. The

12、 students in my engineering class could not do the homework, so we got together and worked for several hours, and we finally solved all the problems.5. The lack of rainfall has caused a severe water shortage, so people have to conserve water every day, and they also have to think of new ways to reus

13、e water, but the situation is improving.Answers will vary. Sample answers:1. After he enrolled in an intermediate culculus class, he founil i( too easy, so he dropped it and signed up for the advanced class.2. Because firstborn children in a family often have more responsibility than their younger s

14、iblings and feel pressure to set n gocxl example, they often become supcrachicvcrs.3. Last-bom children, on the other hand, often have little responsibility and may be pampered as the “baby” of the family; however, because (hey arc (he smailcsi. they have to get people to like them. As a result, (he

15、y often develop superior social skills.4. The students in my engineering class could not do (he homework, so we got (ogcihcr and worked for several hours until we finally solved all of (he problems.5. As【he kick of rainfall has caused a severe water shortage, people have io conserve water every day

16、and think of new ways (o reuse it. However, (he situation is improving.A loose sentence also results from weak sentence construction and the inclusion of many phrases and clauses in no particular order.Example:In the event that we get the contract, we must be ready by June 1 with the necessary perso

17、nnel and equipment to get the job done, so with this end in mind a stajf meeting, which all group managers are expected to attend, is scheduled for February 12.The discipline of telecommunications engineering, including the designing and installation overseein of telecommunications equipment and fac

18、ilities, such as complex electronic switching systems, copper wire telephone facilities and fibre optics, is the enhancement of telecommunication systems through the bringig together of electrical engineering and computer science, from basic circuit design to strategic mass developments.Revised:Tele

19、communications engineering is a discipline that brings together electrical engineering and computer science in order to enhance telecommunications systems. The work involved ranges from basic circuit design to strategic mass developments. The work of a telecommunications engineer includes designing

20、and overseeing the installation of telecommunications equipment such as complex electronic switching systems, copper wire telephone facilities and fibre optics.NOTE: Writing the previous passage as several sentences would be more effective.4. Choppy Sentences(Short sentences can be effective in cert

21、ain situations.For instance, when you want to make an impact, use a short sentence.Despite countless doctors warnings, news stories, and magazine articles about the importance of eating a nutritious, balanced diet, many people resist developing healthy eating habits. Some people just like junk food.

22、(A sentence of 25 words is followed by one of 6 words. The second sentence has greater impact because it is so short.)Choppy sentences are sentences hat are too short. However, overuse of short sentences is considered poor style in academic wriling.e.g. Wind is an enduring source of power. Wetter is

23、 also an unlimited energy source. Danis produce hydraulic power. They have existed for a long time. Windmills are relatively new.Choppy sentences are easy to correct. Just combine two or three short sentences to make one compound or complex sentence. Your decision to make a compound or a complex sen

24、tence should be based on whether the ideas in the short sentences are equal or whether one idea is dependent on the other.1. If the sentences express equal ideas, use coordination （并歹U） to combine them.egNo:Wind is an enduring source of power. Water is also an unlimited energy source. Dams produce h

25、ydraulic power. They have existed for a long time. Whid/nills are relatively new.Yes:Both wind and water are enduring sources of power. Dams have produced hydraulic power for a long time, but windmills are relatively new.Task:Revise the following paragraphs:a. We should not rely so heavily on oil. C

26、oal and uranium are also overused. We have a substantial energy resource in the moving waters of our rivers. Smaller streams add to the total volume of water. The resource renews itself. Oil and coal are irreplaceable. Uranium is also irreplaceable. The cost of water does not increase much over time

27、. The costs of coal, oil, and uranium rise dramatically.Suggested answer:We should not rely so heavily on oil, coal, and uranium, for we have a substantial energy resource in the moving waters of our rivers and streams. Oil, coal, and uranium are irreplaceable and thus subject to dramatic cost incre

28、ases; water, however, is s叫-renewing and more stable in cost.b. Many chronic misspellers do not have the time to master spelling rules .They may not have the motivation. They may rely on dictionaries to catch misspellings. Most dictionaries list words under their correct spellings. One kind of dicti

29、onary is designed for chronic misspellers. It lists each word under its common misspellings. It then provides the correct spelling. It also provides the definition.Suggested revision:Many chronic misspellers do not have the time or motivation to master spelling rules. They may rely on dictionaries t

30、o catch misspellings, but mostdictionaries list words under their correct spellings. One kind of dictionary is designed for chronic misspellers. It lists each word under its common misspellings and then provides the correct spelling and definition.2. If the sentences express unequal ideas, that is,

31、if one sentence expresses a less important idea than the other, use subordination to combine them.No:We must find new sources of energy Natural sources of energy are decreasing.Solar energy is a promising new source of energy. Solar energy is energy from the sun.Yes:We must find new sources of energ

32、y because natural sources of energy are dwindling. Solar energy, which is energy from the sun, is a promising new source.NO:Our results were inconsistent. The program obviously contains an error. We need to talk to Paul Davis. We will ask him to review the program.YES:We will ask Paul Davis to revie

33、w the program because it produced inconsistent results.TaskImprove the following choppy sentences by combining them.1. Gasoline became expensive. Automobile manufacturers began to produce smaller cars. Smaller cars use less gasoline.2. Government and private agencies have spent billions of dollars a

34、dvertising the dangers of smoking. The number of smokers is still increasing.3. Some students go to a vocational school to learn a trade. Some students go to college to earn a degree.4. The grading system at our college should be abolished. The students do not like getting grades. The instructors do

35、 not enjoy giving grades.5. Education in a free society teaches children how to think. Education in a dictatorship teaches children what to think.Key:1. When gasoline became more expensive, automobile manufacturers began to produce smaller cars because they use less gasoline. (Or: Because gasoline b

36、ecame more expensive:., automobile manufacturers began to produce smaller cars, which use less gasoline.)Akhcuxh ihe uoveniinenl and privuie agencies have spenl billions of dollars “dvenismg Ihe dangers of smoking, Ihe number of smokers is still increasing.ORThe .ovcmmcnl and privale agencies have s

37、pcnl billions of dollars advenisinq Ihe ckinKcs of smoking; nevertheless, (he number ef smokers is slill inccasii】L.ORThe Rcvcrnmenl and private agencies have spcnl billions of dollars advertising (he 2 dangers of smoking, yelhe number of smokers is slill increasing.4. EqualMain idea? (a) and (b) ar

38、e equally important.Relationship: EqualitySome sludenls eo Io a vocational school 1。learn o【rade, ;ind some stndenls &o lo colleco earn a deoree.5. Not equalMain idea? (a)Relationship: (b) and (c) give reasons for the main idea.The grading syslem al our colleue should be abolished because (he sludci

39、ils do noi like erades and he insliuclors do n enjoy uiving Ihem.6. EqualMain idea? (a) and (b) are equally important.Relationship: contrastEducalion in a free society leaches children how io (hink, whereas educalion in a dictalorship leaches children whai lo think.OREducaiion in a socicly lcachc$ c

40、hildren how io ihink; in conirast, education in a dicialorship leaches children whal (o ihink.5. Excessive SubordinationExcessive subordination is not an effective substitute for choppiness.Example:NO:Doug thought that he was prepared but he failed the examination which meant that he had to repeat t

41、he course before he could graduate which he didnt want to do because it would conflict with his summer job.YES:Doug thought that he was prepared, but he failed the examination. Therefore, he would have to repeat the course before he could graduate. He did not want to do that because it would conflic

42、t with his summer job.The discipline of telecommunications engineering, including the designing and installation overseeing of telecommunications equipment and facilities, such as complex electronic switching systems, copper wire telephone facilities and fibre optics, is the enhancement of telecommu

43、nication systems through the bringing together of electrical engineering and computer science, from basic circuit design to strategic mass developments.Telecommunications engineering is a discipline that brings together electrical engineering and computer science in order to enhance telecommunicatio

44、ns systems. The work involved ranges from basic circuit design to strategic mass developments. The work of a telecommunications engineer includes designing and overseeing the installation of telecommunications equipment such as complex electronic switching systems, copper wire telephone facililies a

45、nd fibre optics.6. Parallel StructureParts of a sentence which are in sequence must all follow the same grammatical or structural principle.Example:NO:I like to swim, to sail, and rowing.YES:/ like to swim, to sail, and to row.YES:/ like swimming, sailing, and rowing.NO:This report is an overview of the processes involved, the problems encountered, and how they were solved.YES:This report is an overview of the processes involved, the problems encountered, and the solutions devised.