NTUT Academic Writing II: NTUT Academic Writing II: “Types of Sentences” “Types of Sentences”

March 29, 2007 March 29, 2007

※※Clauses: a group of words that contaClauses: a group of words that contains (at least) a subject and a verb. ins (at least) a subject and a verb.

And they come in TWO types:And they come in TWO types: Independent ClausesIndependent Clauses: contain a Subject and a Ve: contain a Subject and a Ve

rb and express a Complete Thought. (Subject + Verb and express a Complete Thought. (Subject + Verb [+ Complement])rb [+ Complement])

Ex. Students normally spend four years in college.Ex. Students normally spend four years in college. Many international students experience culture shoMany international students experience culture sho

ck when they first come to the United States. ck when they first come to the United States.

Dependent ClausesDependent Clauses: do not express a complet: do not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence e thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence by itself. by itself.

A dependent clause is formed with (SubordinatA dependent clause is formed with (Subordinator + Subject + Verb [+ Complement]). or + Subject + Verb [+ Complement]).

Ex. … although students normally spend four Ex. … although students normally spend four years in college…years in college…

… … when they come to the United States… when they come to the United States…

Clause Connectors: Clause Connectors:

Test Yourselves: Test Yourselves: 1. Jet lag affects most long-distance travelers()1. Jet lag affects most long-distance travelers() 2. Which is simply the urge to sleep at inappr2. Which is simply the urge to sleep at inappr

opriate times()opriate times() 3. Although there is no sure way to prevent jet 3. Although there is no sure way to prevent jet

lag()lag() 4. There are ways to minimize it()4. There are ways to minimize it() 5. Because jet lag is caused at least partially by 5. Because jet lag is caused at least partially by

loss of sleep, not just a change in the time of slloss of sleep, not just a change in the time of sleep()eep()

※※Kinds of Sentences: Kinds of Sentences: Compound SentenceCompound Sentence: composed of TWO or more independent claus: composed of TWO or more independent claus

e. There are e. There are THREE ways to join these independent clausesTHREE ways to join these independent clauses.. Compound sentences with CoordinatorsCompound sentences with Coordinators::

Test Yourselves Test Yourselves 1. The accident at the nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island in the 1. The accident at the nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island in the

United States created fears about the safety of this energy source. United States created fears about the safety of this energy source. The disaster at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union confirmed tThe disaster at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union confirmed them. (and)hem. (and)

2. Solar heating systems are economical to operate. The cost of instal2. Solar heating systems are economical to operate. The cost of installation is very high. (but)lation is very high. (but)

3. Energy needs are not going to decrease. Energy sources are not go3. Energy needs are not going to decrease. Energy sources are not going to increase. (nor)ing to increase. (nor)

4. Burning fossil fuels causes serious damage to our planet. We need 4. Burning fossil fuels causes serious damage to our planet. We need to develop other sources of energy. (so)to develop other sources of energy. (so)

5. Ecologists know that burning fossil fuels causes holes in the ozon5. Ecologists know that burning fossil fuels causes holes in the ozone layer. People continue to do it. (yet)e layer. People continue to do it. (yet)

6. Poorer nations especially will continue this harmful practice. They 6. Poorer nations especially will continue this harmful practice. They don’t have the money to develop “clean” energy sources. (for)don’t have the money to develop “clean” energy sources. (for)

7. All nations of the world must take action. Our children and grandc7. All nations of the world must take action. Our children and grandchildren will suffer the consequences. (or)hildren will suffer the consequences. (or)

Compound Sentences with Conjunctive AdverbsCompound Sentences with Conjunctive Adverbs Ex. The college campus is located in the center of the city (theEx. The college campus is located in the center of the city (the

refore) it is very easy to do my shopping.refore) it is very easy to do my shopping. Nuclear accidents can happen________ nuclear power plants sNuclear accidents can happen________ nuclear power plants s

hould have strict safety controls.hould have strict safety controls.

Compound Sentences with Semicolons:Compound Sentences with Semicolons: Used only when the two independent clauses arUsed only when the two independent clauses ar

e closely related in meaning. If not, they should e closely related in meaning. If not, they should be written as two simple sentences.be written as two simple sentences.

Ex. My older brother studies law; my younger Ex. My older brother studies law; my younger brother studies medicine.brother studies medicine.

Poland was the first Eastern European country tPoland was the first Eastern European country to turn away from communism; others soon follo turn away from communism; others soon followed.owed.

The American way of life apparently does not fThe American way of life apparently does not foster marital happiness half of all American maoster marital happiness half of all American marriages end in divorce.rriages end in divorce.

Complex SentencesComplex Sentences: : contain 1 independent clause and 1 (or more) dependent clausecontain 1 independent clause and 1 (or more) dependent clause

(s). The more important idea is placed in the independent claus(s). The more important idea is placed in the independent clause. Three kinds of clauses: e. Three kinds of clauses:

※※Parallelism: in listing, compariParallelism: in listing, comparing, and contrasting items or ideang, and contrasting items or idea

s.s.

Each item in the list follows the SEach item in the list follows the SAME grammatical pattern (noun/inAME grammatical pattern (noun/infinitive verb phrase/dependent claufinitive verb phrase/dependent clauses, etc.) ses, etc.)

Two ways to achieve parallelism: Two ways to achieve parallelism: 1. 1. Coordinators (and, or, but)Coordinators (and, or, but) Ex. The Federal Air Pollution Control AdminiEx. The Federal Air Pollution Control Admini

stration regulates automobile exhausts, and the stration regulates automobile exhausts, and the Federal Aviation Administration makes similar Federal Aviation Administration makes similar regulations for aircraft.regulations for aircraft.

The states regulate the noise created by motor The states regulate the noise created by motor vehicles but not by commercial aircraft.vehicles but not by commercial aircraft.

Pesticides cannot be sold if they have an adverPesticides cannot be sold if they have an adverse effect on humans, on animal life, or on the ese effect on humans, on animal life, or on the environment.nvironment.

2. 2. Correlative Conjunctions (both… and, either… Correlative Conjunctions (both… and, either… or, neither… nor, AND not only… but also)or, neither… nor, AND not only… but also)

Ex. A new law provides the means for Ex. A new law provides the means for bothboth regulatin regulating pesticides g pesticides andand ordering their removal if they are da ordering their removal if they are dangerous.ngerous.

Air pollutants may come Air pollutants may come eithereither from the ocean as nat from the ocean as natural contaminants given off by sea life ural contaminants given off by sea life oror from the int from the internal combustion engines of automobiles.ernal combustion engines of automobiles.

Many people are Many people are neitherneither concerned about pollutant concerned about pollutant nnoror worried about their future impact. worried about their future impact.

If If neitherneither industry industry nornor the public works toward reduc the public works toward reducing pollution problems, future generations will suffer.ing pollution problems, future generations will suffer.

At the present time, air pollution is controlled through At the present time, air pollution is controlled through laws passed laws passed not onlynot only to reduce the pollutants at their to reduce the pollutants at their sources sources but alsobut also to set up acceptable standards of air to set up acceptable standards of air quality.quality.

※※Sentence Problems: Sentence Problems: 1. 1. Sentence FragmentsSentence Fragments: incomplete sentences : incomplete sentences

or parts of sentences.or parts of sentences. Ex. Because some students work part-time whEx. Because some students work part-time wh

ile taking a full load of courses.ile taking a full load of courses. For example, the increase in the cost of renting For example, the increase in the cost of renting

an apartment.an apartment. Feeling lonely and failing most of his classes.Feeling lonely and failing most of his classes. Many young people who leave home at an earlMany young people who leave home at an earl

y age.y age. The best movie that I saw last year. The best movie that I saw last year.

2. 2. Choppy SentencesChoppy Sentences: overuse of short sentences. Combination : overuse of short sentences. Combination of short sentences depends on the relevance of ideas.of short sentences depends on the relevance of ideas.

Ex. Ex. Use coordination for equal ideasUse coordination for equal ideas:: Wind is an enduring source of power. Water is also an unlimitWind is an enduring source of power. Water is also an unlimit

ed energy source.ed energy source. Dams produce hydraulic power. They have existed for a long tDams produce hydraulic power. They have existed for a long t

ime. Windmills are relatively new.ime. Windmills are relatively new. →→(Both wind (Both wind andand water are enduring sources of power. Dam water are enduring sources of power. Dam

s have produced hydraulic power for a long time, s have produced hydraulic power for a long time, butbut wind mil wind mills are relatively new.)ls are relatively new.)

Use subordination to combine unequal ideasUse subordination to combine unequal ideas:: We must find new sources of energy. Natural sources of energWe must find new sources of energy. Natural sources of energ

y are dwindling.y are dwindling. Solar energy is a promising new source of energy. Solar energSolar energy is a promising new source of energy. Solar energ

y is energy from the sun. y is energy from the sun. →→(We must find new sources of energy (We must find new sources of energy becausebecause natural sourc natural sourc

es of energy are dwindling. Solar energy, es of energy are dwindling. Solar energy, whichwhich is energy fro is energy from the sun, is a promising new source.) m the sun, is a promising new source.)

3. 3. Run-on sentences Run-on sentences (two or more independent clauses are wr(two or more independent clauses are written without any punctuation) itten without any punctuation) and comma splicesand comma splices (two or mo (two or more independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma withre independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction):out a coordinating conjunction):

Ex. (Run-on): My family went to Australia then they emigrateEx. (Run-on): My family went to Australia then they emigrated to Canada.d to Canada.

(Comma splice): My family went to Australia, then they emigr(Comma splice): My family went to Australia, then they emigrated to Canada.ated to Canada.

Four ways to Four ways to correct these sentencescorrect these sentences:: (Period): My family went to Australia(Period): My family went to Australia.. Then they emigrated to Then they emigrated to

Canada.Canada. (Semicolon): My family went to Australia(Semicolon): My family went to Australia;; then they emigrate then they emigrate

d to Canada.d to Canada. (Coordinator): My family went to Australia(Coordinator): My family went to Australia,, andand then they emi then they emi

grated to Canada.grated to Canada. (Subordinator): My family went to Australia (Subordinator): My family went to Australia beforebefore they emig they emig

rated to Canada.rated to Canada. AfterAfter my family went to Australia, they emigrated to Canada. my family went to Australia, they emigrated to Canada.

4. Stringy Sentences: often result from writing the wa4. Stringy Sentences: often result from writing the way we speak. Usually connect too many independent cly we speak. Usually connect too many independent clauses (using auses (using andand, , butbut, and , and becausebecause).).

Ex. Many students attend classes all morning, and theEx. Many students attend classes all morning, and then they work all afternoon, and they also have to study n they work all afternoon, and they also have to study at night, so they are usually exhausted by the weekenat night, so they are usually exhausted by the weekend.d.

Corrections: Many students attend classes all morning Corrections: Many students attend classes all morning and work all afternoon. and work all afternoon.

Since they also have to study at night, they are usuallSince they also have to study at night, they are usually exhausted by the weekend.y exhausted by the weekend.

Because many students attend classes all morning, woBecause many students attend classes all morning, work all afternoon, and study at night, they are usually erk all afternoon, and study at night, they are usually exhausted by the weekend. xhausted by the weekend.

※※Review:Review:

KnowingKnowing that millions of people around the world would be watch that millions of people around the world would be watching in person and on television and expecting great things from hiing in person and on television and expecting great things from him -- at least one more gold medal for America, if not another world m -- at least one more gold medal for America, if not another world record -- during this, his fourth and surely his last appearance in threcord -- during this, his fourth and surely his last appearance in the World Olympics, e World Olympics, and realizingand realizing that his legs could no longer carr that his legs could no longer carry him down the runway with the same blazing speed and confidency him down the runway with the same blazing speed and confidence in making a huge, eye-popping leap that they were capable of a fee in making a huge, eye-popping leap that they were capable of a few years ago when he set world records in the 100-meter dash and iw years ago when he set world records in the 100-meter dash and in the 400-meter relay and won a silver medal in the long jump, the n the 400-meter relay and won a silver medal in the long jump, the renowned sprinter and track-and-field personality renowned sprinter and track-and-field personality Carl LewisCarl Lewis, who , who had known pressure from fans and media before but never, even as had known pressure from fans and media before but never, even as a professional runner, this kind of pressure, a professional runner, this kind of pressure, mademade only a few appea only a few appearances in races during the few months before the Summer Olympicrances in races during the few months before the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, s in Atlanta, Georgia, partly becausepartly because he was  afraid of raising expe he was  afraid of raising expectations even higher ctations even higher andand he did not want to be distracted by  interv he did not want to be distracted by  interviews and adoring fans who would follow him into stores and restauiews and adoring fans who would follow him into stores and restaurants  demanding autographs and photo-opportunities, rants  demanding autographs and photo-opportunities, but mostly but mostly becausebecause he wanted to  conserve his energies he wanted to  conserve his energies andand concentrate, like concentrate, like a martial arts expert, on the job at hand:  a martial arts expert, on the job at hand:  winningwinning his favorite com his favorite competition, the long jump, petition, the long jump, and bringingand bringing home another Gold  Medal f home another Gold  Medal for the United States, the most fitting conclusion to his brilliant careor the United States, the most fitting conclusion to his brilliant career in track  and field.er in track  and field.