The Sentence

1. The Sentence By陈烽

2. Complete sentencesTypes of sentencesEffective sentences

3. 1. Complete Sentences • What are essential elements of a grammatically complete sentence? (a subject and a predicate verb) He came. She wrote a letter. Dr. Smith is a professor.

4. Comma fault which results into run-on sentences; Sentence fragments; see page 42 • What should Chinese students be on guard against when making a complete sentence? It was raining hard, they could not work in the fields. I was born in a small town, in the town there was only one school, I studied there for six years. The picture is about a poor little girl lived in old China. There are a lot of children drop out of school due to poverty.

5. 2. Types of Sentences • Use: • Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative and Exclamatory Sentence • Structure: • Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound Complex Sentences • Rhetoric: • Loose, Periodic, parallel, and Balanced Sentences • Length: • Short and Long Sentences

6. Use • Declarative: a statement • Interrogative: a question • Imperative: a command or request • Exclamatory: a strong feeling or emotion

7. Structure • Simple: only one subject and one predicate-verb • Compound: two or more simple sentences • Complex: one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. • Compound-Complex: at least two main clauses and at least one dependent clause • Simple sentences are often used to make emphatic or important statements; • Complex sentences express ideas clearly and accurately.

8. Rhetoric • Loose: The main idea is expressed at the beginning. • She decided to study English though she was interested in music. • Periodic: The main idea is expressed at or near the end. • It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

9. Parallel: A sentence contains two or more parts of the same form and grammatical function. • Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested. • Balanced: a sentence contains two parallel clauses similar in structure but contrasted in meaning. • The politician is concerned with successful elections, whereas the statesman is interested in the future of his people.

10. Length • Short sentences are emphatic • Long sentences are capable of expressing complex ideas with precision.

11. 3. Effective Sentences • Unity • Coherence • Conciseness • Emphasis • Variety

12. Unity • A unified sentence expresses a single complete thought. It does not contain ideas that are not closely related, nor does it express a thought that is not complete by itself. • Born in a small town in South China in the early 50s, he grew up to be a famous musician. • Du Fu was one of the greatest poets. • Being an honest man, Mr. Wang worked very hard.

13. Coherence • Coherence means clear and reasonable connection between parts. • A sentence is not coherent if it has faulty parallel constructions, pronouns with ambiguous reference, misplaced modifiers, confusing shifts in person and number, or in voice, tense, and mood. • ① faulty parallel constructions • ② pronouns with ambiguous reference • ③ dangling or misplaced modifiers • ④ confusing shifts in person and number, or in voice, tense, and mood

14. ① faulty parallel constructions • A man is judged not only by what he says but also by his deeds. • We thought she was charming, intelligent, and a very capable young woman. • We have great faith and high hopes for her. • She closed the door and hurries away to class.

15. ② pronouns with ambiguous reference • She told her sister that she was wrong. • I’m going to the lecture on modern Chinese drama, because he is adramatist I like.

16. ③ dangling or misplaced modifiers • Looking out of the window, the grassland stretches as far as theeye can reach. • On entering the classroom, the students stood up and said, “Good morning!” • To get ready for the trip, all the things she needed were put into a suitcase. • (to be frank, generally speaking, judging by…) • I read an article in a magazine about sportsmen. • She bought several picture books and put them into her bag, which she intended to give to her children. • The idea she mentioned at first sounded good. • He gave a reason for not attending the lecture, which nobody believed.

17. ④ confusing shifts in person and number, or in voice, tense, and mood • An important thing for the student to remember is that when writing a paper, you should not plagiarize. • Those who wish to take linguistics are expected to sign his name on this sheet of paper. • Students should learn to analyze and solve problems independently. Don’t rely on your teachers’ help. • She closed the door and hurries away to class. • She reviewed the lesson taught last week and all the exercises assigned by the teacher were done.

18. Conciseness • no unnecessary words, not wordy • It was blue in color. • Mary is a quiet and careful woman. • He gave many reasons for the failure, but the reasons he gave were not convincing. • In my opinion, I think your plan is feasible. • Helen is frightened with fear by the strange sound coming from the next room. • enter into • repay back • repeat again • more easier • (that be, which be) • Mr. Smith usually likes to drink all kinds of wines that are produced in France.

19. Li Qing, who was a first-year student of the college, would go to a park near his school every day in the morning. He would bring a small recorder with him. In the Park he would find a quiet corner and listen to a tape of English songs while he was reading his newspapers..

20. Emphasis • Emphatic Sentences • Short sentences and sentence fragments • Inverted sentences • Parallel constructions and balanced sentences • Periodic sentences • Imperative and exclamatory sentences • Rhetorical questions • Negative-positive statements • Sentences with repeated words or phrases • Emphasis within the sentence • Placing • Repetition • Subordination • Combination • Emphatic words and phrases • Verbs and active voice

21. 1. Emphatic Sentences • Short sentences and sentence fragments • The sky is overcast. A north wind is blowing. A gloomy day. • Inverted sentences • The poet was poor, and poor he remained all his life. • In rushed the noisy children. • Parallel constructions and balanced sentences • Periodic sentences • Imperative and exclamatory sentences • Rhetorical questions • Didn’t I tell you that you mustn’t touch it? • How could I forget him? • Negative-positive statements • The performance was not a tragedy but a comedy. • Sentences with repeated words or phrases • Government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.

22. 2. Emphasis within the Sentence • Placing: the beginning and the end, especially the end • Wang Bing is modest and hardworking and is a good student. • Modest and hardworking, Wang Bing is a good student. • Wang Bing is a good student, modest and hardworking. • Repetition: the second mention of an idea should intensify the first, ( not simple repetition of words or use of synonyms) • The good old days were gone forever, could never be got back again. • She look at the stranger with timid suspicion and uneasy doubt.

23. Subordination: coordinate and subordinate structures • The professor walked into the classroom and he carried a bag of books with him. • The professor walked into the classroom, carrying a bag of books with him. • Combination: a series of short sentences combined with the main idea emphasized • They were waiting for the meeting to begin. They talked with each other. They talked about the women’s football team. The team had won victories in Beijing. • Li is a new student from the south. He speaks a dialect. We find it difficult for us to understand. • The old man hunched forward. His head tilted at an angle. His eyes half closed, looking very sleepy.

24. Emphatic words and phrases • This is the very dictionary I have been looking for. • The director himself told me this news. • Do tell us about your recent Antarctic expedition. • His latest novel is by far the best he has ever written. • This theatre is far better than the one we went to last time. • I’m so hungry that I’ll eat whatever food I can find. • What on earth are the children doing in the next room? • I don’t like the play at all. • You can buy everything under the sun in this department store. • Many peasants have motorcycles, not to mention TV sets.

25. Verbs and active voice • Passive voice is used only when the result is more important than the action or the doer is not so important as the receiver) • Lu Xun’s works have been translated into many languages. • Verbs instead of nouns denoting actions • At the sight of the disorderly crowd, he was aware that somethingbad would be possible. • The moment he saw the… he knew that… • The team members are good players. • The team members play well. • My little sister has a preference for chocolate milk. • My little sister prefers chocolate milk. • Active verbs

26. It was a cold, windy day. John was tired, even though it was 9:30 in the morning. The shades were open. Some sunlight was in John’s eyes. The cold wind blew outside. John looked at the clock, (which showed 9:30), rubbed his eyes, and wished he could go back to sleep. He noticed the open shades—just as the sun glared into his eyes. Passive and active

27. I was 13 the first time I had a girlfriend. I was at a school dance. Some girls were coming up to me. I wasn’t looking at them carefully. One of the girls was saying to me, “Would you dance with Elizabeth?” Before I knew it, I was saying, “Sure” and dancing with this girl. She had been sitting next to me in my math class for 2 months. Aged 13, I went to a middle school dance. Some girls introduced me to a girl named Elizabeth. I didn’t look at their faces. I didn’t know the girl, even though she had sat next to me in math class for two months. When one of the girls asked me, “Would you dance with Elizabeth?” I said, “Sure” without thinking. Passive and active

28. External Locus of Control People say I’m friendly. I may be friendly because my parents always showed their love to me. They never forgot my birthday. They always gave me gifts when I studied well. If I made a mistake, they would have a good talk with me and end by saying, “We love you”. That’s probably why I’m so friendly to others.

29. Internal Locus of Control When I meet someone who is not kind, or someone I don’t get along with, I remember my parents. I think about the way my parents showed their love to me—whether I did well or poorly—and I think about how I can show that kind of love to others. I like to think that “All communication is either a loving response or a cry for help.” So I do my best to listen to people and help them.

30. PassiveandActiveverbs • Very active run, jump, die • Active turn, change • A little active did, went • Not really active have, had • A little passive would, should • Very passive be, am, is, are

31. How to use the Active Verb well • Know the doer. • Remember, each sentence has one subject • John cried when hesaw his daughter’s bike. • Don’t lose sight of that subject • If you want the subject to seem active in the sentence, then follow the noun with an active verb • Use powerful verbs • The door was opening as John pushed it. • Johnforced the door open.

32. How to use the Passive verb well: • Use the passive verb to give a definition. • Friendsare not the kind of people who will tell your secrets to others. • People who have better education are not as easily fooled by TV commercials that don’t prove how a product works. • Greekis one of the three main languages that have been used as a source for English words. • My number one goalis to start my own business.

33. A combination of Active Verb and Passive verb • Use the passive verb together with the active verb to make it clear who/what is the subject of your sentence. • When it was my 18th birthday, I was given a car by my parents. • When it was my 18th birthday, my parentsgave me a car.

34. Famous writing George Orwell A Socialist who wrote some of the strongest criticisms of Socialism Most famous books: Animal Farm and 1984 published after his death 1984 is about a man who lives in a country with a strict government, constant war, and no freedom.

35. You had tolive—did live, from habit thatbecameinstinct—in the assumption that every sound youmadewasoverheard, and, except in darkness, every movementscrutinized. Itwaspartly the unusual geography of the room thathadsuggested to him the thingthat hewasnow about todo. But ithadalsobeensuggestedby the book that hehadjust takenout of the drawer. Hehadseenitlyinginthe window of a frowsy little junk shop in a slummy quarter of town (just what quarter hedidnot nowremember) andhadbeenstrickenimmediately by an overwhelming desire topossessit. The thing that he was about todowasto opena diary. Thiswasnot illegal (nothingwasillegal since therewereno longer any laws), but ifdetected itwasreasonably certain that itwouldbepunishedby death, or at least by twenty-five years in a forced-labor camp.

36. Variety • short sentences are used in between long ones • simple sentences in between compound and complex ones • periodic sentences in between loose ones • But variety in not to be sought for its own sake.

37. Exercises: page 72 • When I woke up I saw him asleep in bed, I had not heard him when he came back. Because I had been sleeping soundly. • No student could answer that question, even Yao, who was usually quick in answering questions, was silent. • The old man hunched forward. His head tilted at an angle. His eyes half closed, looking very sleepy. • Their work was well planned, everybody worked with great enthusiasm, thus, they overfulfilled their quota. I. Read the following, point out the mistakes and make necessary corrections:

38. II. Rewrite the following by putting the short sentences into compound or complex sentences, or sentences with participial, prepositional, or other phrases: • Xu comes from a working-class family. He enrolled in college last fall. • The dean issued a bulletin. It said the library would remain open on weekends. • Last night was a wild night. The thunder roared. The wind blew a gale. The rain fell in torrents. • There are icicles on the trees. The temperature must have fallen considerably during the night.

39. We have made some progress. We still have a long way to go. The sky was cloudless. The sun was shining brightly. There were over two hundred passengers on board the plane. About one third of them were foreigners. The girl began to learn to play the piano when she was a child. Her mother was a famous pianist. Napoleon was born in 1769. At that time Corsica had just been acquired by France.

40. 10. She appeared on the stage. A stormy applause broke forth. • 11. The new workers are young and inexperienced. They are eager to learn from the veteran workers. • 12. It was a poor quarter. There were a lot of small huts. They had mud walls and straw roofs. They dotted a hillside.

41. III. The following sentences are not unified or coherent. Try to improve them: • Bernard Shaw was one of the best-known playwrights. • The houses were mere shanties, and rags were stuffed in the cracks and holes. • 3. I read the novel on the novel on the train, which did not interest me at all. • 4. A well-dressed man admitted us to the house, and we later learned that he was a thief. • 5. I lost some important documents and found them three days later. The police had helped me.

42. Tell Helen, if she is at home, I will come to see her. • Listening attentively, a faulty sound was heard. • On entering the room, no one was seen. • Fred is energetic, capable, and a man you can rely on. • The children promised to be careful and that they would return home early. • My watch I either fast or yours is slow.

43. 12. If interested in painting, a course can be taken at the evening school. 13. She said that she would come if she could, but not to wait for her. 14. To tell my friend the good news the letter was posted at once. 15. I will go to the lecture, for I like his poems.

44. IV. Try to make the following sentences concise. • He returned back home after he graduated form college. • We planned to meet just before sunrise very early in the morning. • It seemed to his friends that his attitude was of a puzzling nature. • He did not tell the truth with an honest attitude. • There are a number of students who want to join the drama club.

45. He was kind enough to let me share the same umbrella with him. • Zhao was the person who was elected the representative of the class by the whole class. • At the present time I am taking the course of World History and in addition a course in geography too. • The plane circled around the airport for about ten minutes or so and than disappeared and could no longer be seen. • What I am trying to say is that in my opinion he has not done his work very well and it needs improving.

46. 11. I would like you to consider the question of whether or not you will let our journal publish your recent article on women scientists in China. • Owing to the fact that he had missed many lectures, he was aware that it would be possible for him to fail the exam. 13. There are about 50 patients or so in this ward, among whom many are being given acupuncture treatment. 14. In that country violent death has become a commonplace thing, a thing that occurs every day.

47. V. Rewrite the following sentences, emphasizing the main idea in each: 1. Huang, who is over two meters tall, is the tallest man of the team. 2. China will not be the first to use nuclear weapons under any circumstances.

48. Assignment 1 The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be very good for China. Many people from other countries will be in Beijing during those weeks. China will be more famous in the world. Business in China will be more successful, because of the Olympics.

49. Assignment 2 Rex was too hurt to move. His teammates were looking at him. They were standing around and were unaware of how badly he was hurt. Rex was thinking, “I am not able to get up. I am not able to move my legs.” They had been playing football; and Rex was hit in the stomach by someone’s shoe.