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2) Clip 2: Vocabulary Exercise
3) Printable Documents
a) Notes for Study
IELTS Tip
Use a variety of sentence types and structures in your writing.
Include a range of simple, compound and complex sentences as well as concession, modals, cause and effect and other grammatical structures.
These features make your writing effective, formal and more interesting.
SENTENCE TYPES
In your writing you will be giving reasons, stating the results of a situation, linking statements which contrast with one another and showing other relationships between statements in a sentence. Using different structures and sentence types to express these kinds of ideas adds variety to your writing and also demonstrates the grammatical range of your language, a criterion by which your writing is assessed.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
There are four types of sentence structures in English:
• simple
• compound
• complex
• compound-complex
A simple sentence is also called an independent clause.
Simple sentence |
|
Pollution is a serious problem in cosmopolitan areas. |
|
subject |
verb |
pollution |
is |
A compound sentence consists of 2 or more simple sentences and a conjunction.
Compound sentence |
|
2 simple sentences |
Pollution is a serious problem in cosmopolitan areas. The government is addressing the issue. |
Compound sentence |
Pollution is a serious problem in cosmopolitan areas but the government is addressing the issue. |
but – coordinating conjunction expressing contrast |
A complex sentence consists of an independent and a subordinate clause.
Complex sentence |
Although the government is addressing the issue of pollution, it is still a serious problem in cosmopolitan areas. |
Although – subordinating conjunction expressing concession |
A compound-complex sentence consists of 2 or more independent clauses and 1 or more subordinate clauses.
Compound-complex sentence |
||
Although the government is addressing the issue of pollution, it is still a serious problem in cosmopolitan areas and affects people’s health. |
||
although – subordinating conjunction expressing concession |
||
and – conjunction which joins two independent clauses |
||
it is still a serious problem in cosmopolitan areas |
and |
it …. affects people’s health. |
Connecting your ideas within sentences shows how the meanings of the clauses are related. For example, they may be contrasting ideas, providing a reason, adding another example or cause.
Using a variety of sentence structures to express these kinds of meanings provides an indication of the grammatical range of your language skills and is a criterion by which your writing is assessed.
Here is a Writing Task 2 question and a sample body paragraph which respond in part to the question.
_________________________________________________________________
Write about the following topic.
Society’s responsibility towards the environment today is reflected in the measures taken in disposing of waste through recycling.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
_________________________________________________________________
The body paragraph below presents opposing arguments to the topic that society’s responsibility towards the environment is reflected in the measures taken in disposing of waste through recycling.
Body Paragraph
(1) On the other hand, some manufacturers continue to ignore the impact that the tonnes of waste generated by their goods has on the environment. (2) Two of the most obvious sources are discarded computers and electronic devices. (3)The component parts of these kinds of products cannot be reused nor recycled and do not breakdown in landfill tips where they are dumped. (4) Another major waste problem is packaging. (5) The shelves of supermarkets are full of items which are excessively packaged. (6) Though the contents of these products need to be preserved, protected and secured, triple wrapping is unjustifiable and wasteful. |
There are 6 sentences in the above paragraph. There is also a range of structures which are used to express and connect ideas. Each of these sentences is considered separately.
Sentence 1 |
topic sentence of the paragraph (TS) |
||
On the other hand, some manufacturers continue to ignore the impact that the tonnes of waste generated by their goods has on the environment. |
|||
complex sentence |
independent clause + subordinate clause |
||
Independent clause |
subject |
verb + to-infinitive |
object |
some manufacturers |
continue to ignore |
the impact |
|
Subordinate clause |
providing additional information using the relative pronoun that |
||
that the tonnes of waste generated by their goods has on the environment |
|||
relative pronoun that |
connects further information to the noun in the main (independent) clause, namely the impact to which it is referring |
Sentence 2 |
first supporting sentence (SS1) – providing the sources of the goods |
||
Two of the most obvious sources are discarded computers and electronic devices. |
|||
simple sentence |
complement |
verb (one verb) |
subject |
Two of the most obvious sources |
are |
discarded computers and electronic devices. |
|
Explanation |
The complement, two of the most obvious sources, is in front position because it relates directly to the information in the previous sentence, namely garbage generated by their goods; discarded computers and electronic devices are the sources and the goods. Discarded computers and electronic devices is new information and new information, which is the subject, comes after the verb in this type of structure. The old information, which is two of the most obvious sources, comes first. |
Sentence 3 |
developing sentence (DS) |
|
The component parts of these kinds of products cannot be reused nor recycled and do not breakdown in landfill tips where they are dumped. |
||
compound-complex sentence |
||
compound sentence |
one subject |
two verbs |
The component parts of these kinds of products |
cannot be reused nor recycled and do not breakdown … |
|
Coordinating conjunction and |
joins two pieces of information which relate to the same subject, namely component parts |
|
verbs |
||
cannot be reused nor recycled |
passive structure (+ be + participle) using a negative modal to express ‘impossibility’ cannot |
|
do not breakdown |
negative auxiliary verb do not + phrasal verb breakdown |
|
Passive structures are used for a more formal and more impersonal style of writing. |
||
complex part of the sentence – subordinate clause |
||
… where they are dumped. |
||
Subordinating clause |
The subordinating clause is expressed using a relative adverb where to indicate ‘place’. It refers to landfill. |
Sentence 4 |
second supporting sentence (SS2) – providing another source |
||
Another major waste problem is packaging. |
|||
simple sentence |
complement |
verb (one verb) |
subject |
|
Another major waste problem |
is |
packaging. |
Explanation |
The use of this structure is the same as in sentence 2. The complement, Another major waste problem, is in front position because it refers back to information in the topic sentence, namely waste generated by their goods. So, the problem is stated first and then identified in the sentence, i.e. ordering the information; packaging is the subject – it is new information which comes after the verb in this type of structure. |
Sentence 5 |
first developing sentence (DS2.1) |
||
The shelves of supermarkets are full of items which are excessively packaged. |
|||
complex sentence |
independent clause + subordinate clause |
||
independent clause |
subject |
verb |
object |
|
The shelves of supermarkets |
are |
full of items |
subordinate clause |
relative pronoun which refers back to the noun (object) items |
||
… which are excessively packaged. |
Sentence 6 |
second developing sentence (DS2.2) |
||
Though the contents of these products need to be preserved, protected and secured, triple wrapping is unjustifiable and wasteful. |
|||
complex sentence |
subordinate clause + independent clause |
||
subordinate clause |
subordinating conjunction though used to express a concession |
||
Though the contents of these products need to be preserved, protected and secured … |
|||
independent clause |
subject |
verb |
object |
triple wrapping |
is |
unjustifiable and wasteful. |
The grammatical range of sentence types and structures used in this body paragraph is varied. Short simple sentences were used to emphasise the main ideas, while the complex and compound sentences incorporated more information allowing the writer to expand and develop the ideas more fully. Together this made the writing effective, formal and interesting.
In addition to grammatical range, the number of errors in grammar and punctuation is also measured. This provides an indication of your proficiency or grammatical accuracy. It is also a criterion by which your writing is assessed.
Use a variety of sentence types to make your writing more interesting. The same idea can be expressed in different sentences. For example:
simple sentence |
Happiness is difficult to define. |
Compound sentence |
Happiness is difficult to define but it’s not impossible. |
Complex sentence |
Happiness is difficult to define because it can mean different things. |
Complex sentence |
Happiness is difficult to define because it means different things to different people. |
Complex sentence |
Though difficult to define, I think happiness lies in personal success. |
Complex sentence |
Because happiness can be interpreted in different ways, it is difficult to give a definition. |
b) Learning Activities
Practise and consolidate your learning about conjunctions and sentence types by completing our activities. The answers for all activities are on the last page.
ACTIVITY 1
Choose an appropriate conjunction or linking word from the box below to connect the two sentences. Make any necessary changes so that the sentence is grammatically correct.
especially and but where so that while or which because yet |
1. Global warming is a serious problem. The government is addressing the issue.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. Some strategies are firmly in place for minimising waste. The business world has not yet heeded the serious consequences of their inaction.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
3. Public transportation is a good solution. It can reduce the amount of air pollution.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4. Every person can be an environmentalist in his/her own way. People can help reduce the effects of global warming.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5. Cooperation between government and health care agencies is important.
Proposed policies are accepted.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. The benefits that robots provide cannot be disputed. This is evident in the technological and industrial fields of study.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7. Young graduates prefer travelling overseas. It gives them the opportunity to learn and absorb another language and culture.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
8. One of the options was to merge with the parent company. The other option was to face bankruptcy.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. The Environmental Action Group lost its case. It emerged with more community support and donations.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
10. Parents need to be aware of their children’s activities in online chat rooms.
Predators may also be operating.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITY 2
Choose the best endings for the following sentences.
1. People may join environmental groups or
a. affect the rate of pollution.
b. disseminate information about pollution.
2. Developing countries are having difficulty providing clean water and food much less
a. basic needs and shelter.
b. health care and social welfare.
3. Global warming is an international concern because
a. it affects the climate and nature worldwide.
b. of a decrease in pollution.
4. There has been more information in the media about food additives recently whereas
a. before people weren’t aware of the dangers.
b. before it has been widely publicised.
5. Not only is the use of alcohol and tobacco on the rise, but
a. teenagers have stopped attending school.
b. teenagers are experimenting with designer drugs.
6. Vegetarians risk developing dietary deficiencies if
a. animal protein is consumed.
b. nutritional requirements aren’t maintained.
7. One way of relaxing when on holidays is to enjoy the beach. Alternatively,
a. one could take in a show or the local night life.
b. one could join in a game of beach volleyball.
8. Some argue that capital punishment is appropriate for crimes such as
a. premeditated murder and drug trafficking.
b. an effective deterrent against violence.
9. Industries should be required to establish waste management programs so that
a. older generations can start recycling.
b. future generations can enjoy a cleaner environment.
10. I was well-prepared for my final test. Consequently,
a. I was confident of success.
b. I wasn’t sure of my chances.
ACTIVITY 1 ANSWERS
1. Global warming is a serious problem but the government is addressing the issue.
2. While some strategies are firmly in place for minimising waste, the business world has not yet heeded the serious consequences of their inaction.
3. Public transportation is a good solution because it can reduce the amount of air pollution.
4. Every person can be an environmentalist in his/her own way and help reduce the effects of global warming.
5. Cooperation between government and health care agencies is important so that proposed policies are accepted.
6. The benefits that robots provide cannot be disputed, especially in the technological and industrial fields of study.
7. Young graduates prefer travelling overseas which gives them the opportunity to learn and absorb another language and culture.
8. One of the options was to merge with the parent company or face bankruptcy.
9. The Environmental Action Group lost its case yet it emerged with more community support and donations.
10. Parents need to be aware of their children’s activities in online chat rooms where predators may also be operating.
ACTIVITY 2 ANSWERS
1. b 6. b
2. b 7. a
3. a 8. a
4. a 9. b
5. b 10. a
c) Transcript
Hello, and welcome to Study English, IELTS Preparation. I’m Margot Politis.
One of the criteria used to assess your writing in the IELTS test is called grammatical range and accuracy. The examiners will look at the number of mistakes you make, and also at the range of sentence types you use.
What is the range of sentence types? There is a simple sentence, like this:
Pollution is a problem.
This example shows you the basic structure. A subject – pollution, a verb – is, and the object – a problem. A simple sentence can have more words than this. You can add adjectives:
Pollution is a serious problem.
Air pollution is a serious problem.
And you can add information with a preposition like ‘in’
Air pollution is a serious problem in the city.
Or ‘from’
Air pollution from cars is a serious problem in the city.
So a simple sentence doesn’t have to be short or simple.
Most of the time the thing that’s simple about simple sentences is the idea they express. Listen to some typical simple sentences in this piece about an old theatre:
It is a lovely theatre. It has excellent acoustics. It's a classic 3 tiered, horse-shoe shaped auditorium.
You tend to use simple sentences for straightforward information.
It is a lovely theatre to work in.
It has excellent acoustics.
You can add detail, but the idea is not complicated. Listen again:
It's a classic 3 tiered, horse-shoe shaped auditorium.
But it’s best to use a variety of sentence types and not just a list of simple sentences.
Listen to this:
The foundation stone was laid in 1834 and the theatre opened in 1837.
You can join two simple sentences together with ‘and’.
The two sentences are:
The foundation stone was laid in 1834.
The theatre opened in 1837.
Joining them with 'and' gives you a compound sentence.
Listen again:
The foundation stone was laid in 1834 and the theatre opened in 1837.
But what type of sentence do you use if you want to say something a little more complicated? Listen:
Although the Theatre Royal has some of the disadvantages of this sort of theatre, such as the columns which people don't like sitting behind, it still has atmosphere.
This sort of sentence is called a complex sentence. A complex sentence isn’t just 2 sentences joined together. Some parts of a complex sentence might not be a complete idea. For instance, the first part of this sentence is quite long with a subject, verb and object, but it isn’t complete:
Although the Theatre Royal has some of the disadvantages such as the columns which people don't like sitting behind …
That doesn’t express a complete thought. It needs a simple sentence to finish it:
it still has atmosphere.
If you take the detail out, you have a structure like this:
Although the theatre has disadvantages, it has atmosphere.
‘Although the theatre has disadvantages’ is what is called a dependent clause.
It depends on a simple sentence - it has atmosphere – to become complete and form a complex sentence.
Here is another complex sentence.
When you stand in the middle of the stage, you can talk to everybody.
When you stand in the middle of the stage – that’s a dependent clause. It needs another simple sentence or independent clause to make sense:
When you stand in the middle of the stage, you can talk to everybody.
You can even change the order of the clauses and say:
You can talk to everybody when you stand in the middle of the stage.
Apart from although and when, some of the words used to create dependent clauses like this are: which, that, because, after, and where.
Knowing how to use them is important. It’s something you should practise.
There is one other type of sentence, which is a combination of compound and complex sentences like this:
When the theatre was first built, it was said to look like a 2 storey house and on the outside of the building you can see the stone window sills.
Normally people use a range of sentence types as we’ve seen with the man talking about the theatre. It’s your ability to use these various sentence types that the examiners notice.
Listen as he finishes with a complex sentence, a simple sentence and a complex/compound sentence:
If I could sum up this theatre in a few words, I suppose I could call it an international theatre star! This is the oldest theatre in Australia. It’s been operating for a hundred and 59 years and, who knows, it might still be here in another one hundred and fifty nine years.
His first sentence was complex. Sentences with ‘if’ are mostly complex because an ‘if’ clause depends on another sentence to make sense. Listen:
If I could sum up this theatre in a few words, I suppose I could call it an international theatre star!
Remember that a simple sentence can consist of a subject – this, a verb – is, and an object – the oldest theatre in Australia. Listen:
This is the oldest theatre in Australia.
A compound sentence is two sentences joined by ‘but’ or, as here ‘and’:
It's been operating for one hundred and fifty nine years and who knows, it might still be here in another one hundred and fifty nine years.
There are 2 sentences here joined by ‘and’. The second part is complex with the dependent clause ‘who knows’.
who knows, it might still be here in another hundred and fifty nine years.
So we’ve seen what can go right. What can go wrong?
A simple sentence must have a verb. Is this a sentence?
The house in the country.
No. It looks like a sentence but there is no verb. Let’s add a verb.
The house is in the country.
That’s a simple sentence.
The main problem people have with compound sentences is a mistake called a runon sentence. It’s when 2 simple sentences are run together without using a conjunction such as ‘and’ or ‘but’:
Look at this:
The theatre is small it is beautiful.
That’s a run-on sentence. It’s either 2 simple sentences:
The theatre is small. It is beautiful.
Or it’s a compound sentence:
The theatre is small, but it is beautiful.
So let’s recap. A simple sentence is basically a subject – Pollution – a verb – is – and an object – a problem. It’s also called an independent clause.
A compound sentence is two independent clauses joined by a conjunction such as and, but or so.
A complex sentence is a combination of a dependent clause or clauses with an independent clause. It’s a good way to express some of your ideas in an essay.
Be careful. Using too many simple sentences can make your writing choppy and dull and too many long sentences can make it difficult to follow your ideas. So use both.
That’s all for now. To find more information about sentence types visit our Study
English website at: australianetwork.com/studyenglish.
Good luck with your studies.
(Nguồn UTS: Insearch and Australia Network)
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