Starting Steps ppt

WRITING I 98/99   Starting Steps

1- Basic elements of the sentence : Subject , Objects , Complements

e. g : He is reading a book . Maria is going to buy her son a new watch .

The test was so difficult .

2- Phrases and Clauses :

Phrases : groups of words containing non-finite verbs ( -ING / -ED forms of verbs , To-infinitive )

e .g : Looking at the board , she knew that she was on the wrong way .

This is a long novel written by a very famous writer .

Old Dinger’s ghost was said to live in the surrounding hills .

Clauses : groups of words containing finite verbs

e .g : The cat jumped onto my father’s lap while he was reading his letters .

Looking at the board , she knew that she was on the wrong way .

Practice : Identify phrases and clauses in the following sentences :

1-The woman driving the car indicated that she was going left and then turned right .

2- I shan’t go unless he asks me .

3- When it rains , I usually go to the office by bus .

4- Henry did the work as it ought to be done .

5-Mary has gone to get some fruit .

6-I received my wages yesterday , so that I can now pay what I owe you .

7-Walking through the park , we saw a lovely show of daffodils .

8-The concert given by the Philharmonic Orchestra was a great success .

3-Subordinate clauses :

Functions : Nouns , Adjectives , Adverbs .

e .g : What he likes is what I hate .

Can you tell me what the time is ?

The place where Macbeth met the witches was a desolate heath .

As my secretary is away at present , I have a great many extra letters to answer.

When we came in , they were having dinner .

I know that he is the leader .

The news that he heard from his friend was a great shock to him .

The news that his father got terribly ill was a great shock to him .

Practice :Identify the subordinating clauses and its functions in the following sentences :

1-The book which you lent me was interesting .

2-How the prisoners escaped is a complete mystery .

3-George said that he was pleased to welcome our Italian friends .

4-I shall do the exercises as I have been taught .

5-The news that we are having a holiday tomorrow is not true .

6-He asked me why I had come there .

7-As the car was so small he sold it .

8-He kept on with his work until he had finished it .

9-Stay where you are !

10-The idea that you can do this work without thinking is quite wrong .

4-Complex , Compound , Compound-Complex :

main clause + subordinate clause (s ) -> complex

main clause + main clause -> compound

main clause + main clause + subordinate clause -> compound-complex

e .g : I am teaching you English and you are listening to me .

The man said that he was tired .

Do you understand that or is the point still not clear ?

The boy who was attacked by the thieves closed the door and then he walked away .

The thief ran away when he saw the policeman .

They could not decide what to do so they asked for my advice .

3

WRITING I  

Starting points

I Identify phrases , clauses in the following sentences :

1-Suddenly the tornado hit the town , ripping roots away from houses , wrenching trees from the ground .

2-Anyone who likes rock music wants to hear it all day long .

3-Eventhough I enjoy pastoral beauty , bugs scare me and flowers make me sneeze .

4-We tried out our new speed boat when the see was calm .

5-An educated person is one who knows not only the extent of his knowledge but also its limits .

6-It is difficult to estimate the impact of televised violence upon young children .

7-Many parents are under the impression that education is to be got only in school .

8-Before election , it is every politician’s opinion that taxes must be cut.

9-The police were annoyed by the jeers of the crowd .

10-She became interested in social work through her summer job in a camp for underprivileged children .

II Underline the subordinating clause and denote its function :

1 -While I did well in class , I was a poor performer at games

2- A great storm had brought the sea right into the house , so that they had been forced to make their escape by a

window at the back .

3- Where the pink cliffs rose out of the ground there were often narrow tracks winding upwards .

4- George said he was pleased to welcome our Italian friends .

5- You can have this for what I paid for it .

6-The news that we are having a holiday tomorrow is not true .

7-The news that he told me was terrible .

8- That it was done deliberately is quite clear.

9-I know the reason why he was so angry .

10-He is the kindest man I know .

III Identify compound , complex , compound-complex sentences :

1-Teachers frown on the idea of cramming the night before an exam , but it’s better than flunking .

2-One of the major objections to capital punishment is not that it is ineffective as a deterrent to crime but that it is

so inconsistently administered .

3-The argument for the legalisation of marijuana rests on the contention that the drug is not addictive .

4-The teacher told the class he was retiring that year , and there was a burst of applause .

5- Although Elvis Presley’s heyday seemed to be over , his popularity underwent a revival .

6-This summer I took a temporary job as a shop assistant in the dress department of a large store , and it was an

experience I shall never forget .

7-The first customers of the morning were the ladies who had come up to town in order to spend the whole day at

the shops .

4

WRITING I 97/99   Basic Sentence Faults

Sentence Fragment ( FRAG )

Examples : a Soul music was gaining popularity . But many people still didn’t know what it was .

 Soul music was gaining popularity , but many people still didn’t know what it was .

b The President’s budget was the largest in history . Though he had promised to cut it

 The President’s budget was the largest in history , though he had promised to cut it

c The children were found in the street . The children were homeless .

 The children who were found in the street were homeless .

d I stayed at home . I was very tired .

 I stayed at home because I was very tired ( Because I was tired , I stayed at home )

Defragment the following sentences :

1.The Soviet delegate walked out of the meeting .Which was his way of avoiding the issue .

2.Look in the closet .Or look under the bed .

3.We left the party early .We were tired .

4.A man should never wear his best suit . When he goes out to fight for freedom and truth .

5.The bread was old and stale . Martha ate it anyway .

6.Violence is becoming a tool of political dissent . Chiefly because non-violence can so easily be ignored by the

country as a whole .

7.Many doctors refuse to prescribe birth control pills . Some women have had serious side effects after using the

pills .

8. The Beatles decided to stop giving concerts . Just as they were at the peak of their fame .

9.I couldn’t repair my bicycle . I didn’t have the right tools .

10.Paul brings the money for our lunch . We will go right down to the cafeteria .

11.Some English words have the same pronunciation . They are spelt differently , for example , deer and dear .

12.The two candidates have identical platforms . The only difference is their party .

13.The cortege at President Kennedy’s funeral was a long one .Rich and poor , young and old , all marching side

by side .

14.Many young people are considering social work as a career . Not for the money , but for the sense of

satisfaction it provides .

15. He asked a lot of questions and generally managed to annoy everybody . His questions were none of his

business .

5