Common-Errors-in-sentence.ppt

Sentenceproblems,1.SentenceFragments,2.ChoppySentences,3.Run-TogetherSentences,4.StringySentences,5.ConfusingShifts,6.IncompleteConstruction,7.AmbiguousPron.Reference,8.DanglingModifiers,9.MisplacedModifiers,10.Wordiness,SentenceFragments,1.FragmentsWithoutVerbs:,e.g.1)RogerandLesterpilingonatthegoalline.2)Awomantoberespectedandevenfeared.,Therearegenerallytwowaystocorrectfragmentswithoutverbs.Rewritethefragmentstoletithaveamainverb.RogerandLesterwerepilingonatthegoalline.Sheisrespectedandevenfeared.B.Supplyanothersubjectandverbtomakethefragmentbecomepartofalargersentence.Theumpirespottedafoul,RogerandLesterpilingonatthegoalline.Sheisawomantoberespectedandevenfeared.,Sentenceproblems,2.FragmentsWithoutSubjects:,e.g.1)Heisanindependentdevil.Thinksforhimself.2)Treesareimportantonabuildingsite.Breakthewind.,Therearegenerallytwowaystocorrectthistypeoffragments.TiethelooseverbtotheoriginalsentenceHeisanindependentdevilandthinksforhimself.Treesareimportantonabuildingsiteforbreakingthewind.B.Supplyasubjecttothelooseverb.Heisanindependentdevil.Hethinksforhimself.Treesareimportantonbuildingsites.Theybreakthewind.,Sentenceproblems,3.FragmentsWithoutSubjectsand/orVerbs:,e.g.1)Hesankslowlydown.Exhausted.(participle)2)Determinedtosucceed.Johntriedhard.(participlephrase)3)Tobeloved.Onemustlove.(infinitive)4)Hefoundthemwhereheleastexpected.Onhishead.(prepositionalphrase)5)Aroundthecorner.Therewasadrugstore.(prepositionalphrase)6)Hewasdedicatedtohisschool.Aninstitutionofhigherlearning.(appositive),Sentenceproblems,2.FragmentsWithoutSubjectsand/orVerbs:,Thesefragmentscanbejoinedtotheirsentences,inseveralways.Herearesomegoodpossibilities:1)Hesankslowlydown,exhausted.2)Determinedtosucceed,Johntriedhard.3)Tobeloved,onemustlove.4)Hefoundthemwhereheleastexpectedonhishead.5)Aroundthecornertherewasadrugstore.6)Hewasdedicatedtohisschool,aninstitutionofhigherlearning.,Sentenceproblems,4.FragmentsofDependentClauses:,e.g.-Becausesomestudentshavepart-timejobsinadditiontogoingtoschool.,Dependentclausefragmentsarealwaysfoundnearthesentenceofwhichtheyshouldbeapart,andcorrectingthemalmostalwaysinvolvesgettingridoftheperiodandcapitalletterandjoiningthefragmentstothesentencetowhichtheybelong:Becausesomestudentshavepart-timejobsinadditiontogoingtoschool,theyhaveverylittletime.,Sentenceproblems,Studythefollowingexample:Itishardtohearanewvoice,ashardasitistolistentoanunknownlanguage.Wejustdontlisten.ThereisanewvoiceintheoldAmericanclassics.Theworldhasdeclinedtohearit,andhasbabbledaboutchildrensstories.Why?-Outoffear.Theworldfearsanewexperiencemorethanitfearsanything.Becauseanewexperiencedisplacessomanyoldexperiences.Anditisliketryingtousemusclesstiffforages.Ithurtshorribly.-D.H.Lawrence,Sentenceproblems,Practice:1.MarkthesentencesfragmentswithF,andthecompletesentenceswithS.Thefirstoneisdoneforyou.,F1)Thedesireofallmankindtoliveinpeaceandfreedom,forexample._2)Second,thefactthatmenarephysicallystrongerthanwomen._3)ThebestmoviethatIsawlastyear._4)StarWarswasthebestmoviethatIsawlastyear._5)Forexample,manystudentshavepart-timejobs._6)Althoughpeoplewanttobelievethatallmenarecreatedequal._7)Findingasuitablemarriagepartnerisachallengingtask._8)Manyofmyfriendswhodidnthavetheopportunitytogotocollege._9)Workingduringthemorningandattendingclassesduringtheafternoon._10)BecauseIdontfeelthatgradesincollegehaveanyvalue.,Sentenceproblems,Practice:2.Rewritethefragmentstomakecompletesentences.,1)Theleavesturningeveryshadeofred,withgold,brown,andlingeringgreenforcontrast.2)Diane,whothoughtshehadbeengivenpermissiontouseherbookonthetest.3)Jefftoaskaboutratesduringtheoffseasoninanattempttosavethegroupasmuchmoneyaspossible.4)Brendaputsalotofpressureonherhusband.5)ThisisthemostreliablelawnmowerIhaveeverseen.Startseverytime.6)WeowealottovitaminC.Wardsoffcoldsandflu.7)Encouragedbyhisluck.Hereturnedtothegamingtables.8)Shefinallyattainedtherecognitionshedeserved.Forheryearsofpatientresearch.,Sentenceproblems,Practice:2.Rewritethefragmentstomakecompletesentences.,9)Becauseithadsatoutfortwoweeks.Thecarrefusedtostart.10)Ifhehadcomefromanotherschool.Wemighthavebeenfriends.11)Washthecarcarefully.Beingsurenottoscratchthenewfinish.12)Elizabethhasadefinitegoalinmind.Topossesstrueindependenceofmeansandspirit.13)Youalwayssaythingsyouregret.Whenyoucometoyoursenses.14)HowcanIforgivehimforwhathesaid?Whilehegoesonsayingit.15)Aresorttorelieveyouofthepressureofabusylife.,ChoppySentences,Choppysentencesaresuccessivesentencesthataretooshort.,e.g.1)Therewasaknockatthedoor.Iasked.Nobodyanswered.2)Hefoundthekitchenwindowopen.Heputaladderagainstthewindow.Heclimbedin.,Thewaytoimproveitistojointheelatedideasintoonecompoundorcomplexsentencebyusingappropriatetransitionalwords,ortochangesomesentencesintophrasesattachedtosomeothersentences.Therewasaknockatthedoor.Iaskedwhoitwas,butgotnoanswer.Findingthekitchenwindowopen,heputaladderagainstitandclimbedin.,Practice:Improvingthefollowingchoppysentencesbycombiningthemtomakeeithercompoundorcomplex,orsimplesentenceswithphrasalmodifiers.,1)Gasolineisbecomingexpensive.Automobilemanufacturersareproducingsmallercars.Smallercarsuselessgasoline.2)Thecomputerhasundoubtedlybenefitedhumanity.Thecomputerhasalsocreatedproblemsforhumanity.3)Governmentandprivateagencieshavespendbillionsofdollarsadvertisingthedangersofsmoking.Thenumberofsmokersisstillincreasing.4)Somestudentsgotocollegetogetadegree.Somestudentsgotocollegetogetaneducation.5)Thegradingsystematourcollegeshouldbeabolished.Thestudentsdontlikegettinggrades.Theinstructorsdontenjoygivinggrades.,ChoppySentences,Run-TogetherSentences,e.g.1)Gettingmarriediseasy,stayingmarriedisadifferentmatter.2)Aforeignstudentfacesmanyproblems,forexample,hehastocopewithanewculture.3)SanFranciscoisaverycosmopolitancity,therearepeoplefrommanyculturesandethnicgroupslivingthere.,Arun-togethersentencescanbecorrectedinfiveways.1)Aperiod:Gettingmarriediseasy.Stayingmarriedisadifferentmatter.2)Asemicolon:Gettingmarriediseasy;stayingmarriedisadifferentmatter.3)Acoordinatingconjunction:Gettingmarriediseasy,butstayingmarriedisadifferentmatter.4)Asubordinatingconjunction:Gettingmarriediseasyalthoughstayingmarriedisadifferentmatter.5)Asemicolonplusaconjunctiveadverb:Gettingmarriediseasy;however,stayingmarriedisadifferentmatter.,Run-TogetherSentences,PracticeMarktherun-togethersentenceswithRTSandthecorrectsentenceswithC.Thefirstoneisdoneforyou.RTS1)Anencyclopediaisavaluablesourceofinformation,itcontainssummariesofeveryareaofknowledge._2)Becauseoftherapidexpansionofhumanknowledge,itisdifficulttokeepencyclopediacurrent._3)Almostassoonasanencyclopediaispublished,itbecomesobsolete._4)Homeeditionsofencyclopediasareshorterandmoreconcisethanlibraryeditions,theydontcontainasmuchdetailedinformation._5)Articlesinencyclopediasarewrittenbyexpertsineachsubject,whoareoftenuniversityprofessors._6)Aneditorofanencyclopediadoesntwritearticles,heonlycollectsandeditsarticleswrittenbyotherexperts.,Run-TogetherSentences,PracticeMarktherun-togethersentenceswithRTSandthecorrectsentenceswithC.Thefirstoneisdoneforyou._7)Tofindabookonacertainsubject,youshouldlookinthecardcatalog,buttofindamagazinearticleonasubject,youshouldlookinaperiodicalindex._8)Aperiodicalindex,whichisalsocalledaperiodicalguide,doesnotcontainanyarticles,itmerelygivesalistofarticlesandtellsyouwheretofindthem._9)Thereferenceroomofthelibraryhasseveralperiodicalindexes,oneistheReadersGuidetoPeriodicalLiterature._10)Ifyoucantfindanyinformationonasubject,youcanalwaysaskalibrariantohelpyou,theyarepaidtoassiststudents.,Run-TogetherSentences,Practice2.Correctthefollowingrun-togethersentencesusingthemethodindicated:Aforeignstudentfacesmanyproblems,forexample,hehastocopewithanewculture.(Addaperiod)_.(Addasemicolon)_.2)SanFranciscoisaverycosmopolitancity,therearepeoplefrommanycultures,andethnicgroupslivingthere.(Addaperiod)_.(Addasemicolon)_.(Addasubordinatingconjunction)_.(Addacoordinatingconjunction)_.(Addasemicolonplusaconjunctiveadverb)_.,Run-TogetherSentences,Practice2.Correctthefollowingrun-togethersentencesusingthemethodindicated:3)Learninganewlanguageislikelearningtoswim,ittakesalotofpractice.(Addacoordinatingconjunction)_.4)Askforassistanceatthereferencedeskinthelibrary,thereisalwaysalibrarianonduty.(Addasemicolon)_.5)Hang-glidingisadangeroussport,youcaneasilybreakyourleg.(Addasubordinatingconjunction)_.,StringySentences,Astringysentenceisasentenceinwhichtoomanyclausesareconnected,usuallywithand,but,soandbecause,formingoneverylongsentencethatseemsendless.Lookatthefollowingexample:Myroommate,Bill,goestocollegeandfromthebeginningofthissemesteruntillastweek,hehadntstudiedatallandthereasonwasbecausehehadnoexamsduringthatperiod.Butthedaybeforeyesterday,IwasastonishedbecauseIsawhimstudyingandlateron,hetoldmehehadstudiedalldaylongandthereasonwasbecausehewasgoingtohaveanexamthenextdayandhewantedtogetagoodgradeintheexamsohedecidedtostudy.,Thereareseveralwaystocorrectastringysentence:,StringySentences,StringySentenceDivideSubordinateSubordinateandCombineParticiplephrases,Manystudentsattendclassesallmorningandworkallafternoonandthentheyhavetostudyatnightsotheyareusuallyexhaustedbytheweekend.Manystudentsattendclassesallmorningandworkallafternoon.Then,theyhavetostudyatnight.Asaresult,theyareusuallyexhaustedbytheweekend.Manystudents,aftertheyattendclassesallmorning,alsoworkintheafternoon.Becausetheyalsohavetostudyatnight,theyareusuallyexhaustedbytheweekend.Manystudents,whoattendclassesallmorning,workallafternoon,andalsohavetostudyatnight,areexhaustedbytheweekend.Afterattendingclassesallmorning,workingallafternoon,andstudyingatnight,manystudentsareexhaustedbytheweekend.,StringySentences,PracticeImprovethesestringysentences.Useanymethodorcombinationofmethods.Heenrolledinanadvancedcalculusclass,buthefoundittoodifficult,sohedroppedit.Thetidalwaveruinedthecrops,anditdestroyedseveralvillages,anditcausedmanydeaths,soitwasarealdisaster.Theanalystsworkedmanyhoursonthecomputerprogram,buttheycouldntfindthecauseoftheproblem,sotheyfinallygaveup,andtheywenthome.Junkfoodisbadforyourhealth,anditalsocontainsnovitamins,anditdamagesyourstomach,soyoushouldnteatit.ThelackofrainfallinNorthernCaliforniahascausedaseverewatershortage,sopeoplehavetoconservewatereveryday,andtheyalsohavetothinkofnewwaystoreusewater,butthesituationisimproving.,StringySentences,PracticeImprovethesestringysentences.Useanymethodorcombinationofmethods.6.IhavenevermetAlanbutIhaveheardagreatdealabouthisadventuressoIameagertoseehim.7.Ireneisthetopstudentinherclassandsheisgoingtotakethecollegeentranceexaminationwithmoreconfidencethanherclassmates.8.ShanghaihasagoodharborandahighlydevelopedindustryandthereforehasbecometheindustrialcenterandmostimportantportofChina.9.Mysistersuddenlyfellillandshehadtostayathomesoshemissedmanylessons.10.Theroofsofthehouseswereeitherroundorpointedandtheymadeapleasingcontrastwiththeback-groundoftheforest.,ConfusingShifts,ConfusingShiftsinPersonStudythefollowingtwosentences:Adrivershouldneverraceyourmotorwithoutawarm-up.WhenIwasinhighschool,youneverknewwhattoexpect.Theyshouldbecorrectedinthesameperson:Adrivershouldneverracehismotorwithoutawarm-up.WhenIwasinhighschool,Ineverknowwhattoexpected.Specialattentionshouldbepaidtothepersonofnounsandpronounsthatrefertoindefiniteindividualsorgroups:3.Ahumanbeingcanneverignoreyourownfeelings.4.ItalwaysseemstoanyonethatIwillneverdie.,Ahumanbeingcanneverignorehisownfeelings.,Italwaysseemstoanyonethathewillneverdie.,ConfusingShifts,ConfusingShiftsinPersonAlsokeepinmindthedistinctionbetweenoneandyou,twopronounsthatareofteninvolvedinfaultypersonshifts.Wrong:Whenoneissick,youdontwantcompany.Right:,Whenyouaresick,youdontwantcompany.,Whenonearesick,onedontwantcompany.,Whenonearesick,hedontwantcompany.,ConfusingShifts,ConfusingShiftsinTenseAwritermustbesurethatchangesintensearebasedonrealchangesintime;otherwise,theresultisneedlessconfusion:1)Thephotographerwaschangingfilmwhenthebuildingshuddersandcollapses.2)Iwasextremelysorryyouareinjured.,Thephotographerwaschangingfilmwhenthebuildingshudderedandcollapsed.,Iamextremelysorryyouareinjured.,Note:thehistoricalpresentisgenerallyusedinliterarywriting.Ifyoustartwiththehistoricalpresent,youshouldnotlapseintothepasttense.,ConfusingShifts,ConfusingShiftsinSubjectandVoiceAwritershouldnevershiftsubjectsincloselyrelatedclauseswithoutgoodreason.Hereisasentenceinwhichthesubjectchangesunnecessarily:Mikecannotkeeporchidsalive,butgeraniumsareeasyforhimtogrow.ThesentenceshouldsayMikecannotkeeporchidsalive,buthefindsiteasytogrowgeraniums.Stickingtothesamegrammaticalsubjectwhenpossiblewillimprovetheclarityandfocusofyoursentences,thesameistrueofavoidingneedlessshifts:Shirleywonthefirstprize,whileherbrotherwasawardedthesecond.Rogercrossedthegoalline,andthewinningtouch-downwasscored.,Shirleywonthefirstprize,whileherbrothergotthesecond.,Rogercrossedthegoalline,andscoredthewinninggoal.,ConfusingShifts,ConfusingShiftsinMoodorSpeechAsentenceshouldendinthesamemooditbeginswith:Wrong:Firststopthenoiseandthenyoumaystartthediscussion.Right:Firststopthenoiseandthenstartthediscussion.Lookatthefollowingexamples:MandytoldTomegetoutofhere.2.Idaaskedtheartistcouldshewatchhimatwork.,MandysaidtoTom,“Getoutofhere!”,Idaaskedtheartist,“CouldIwatchyouatwork?”,MandytoldTometogetoutofthere.,MandytoldTomthatheshouldgetoutofthere.,Idaaskedwhethershecouldwatchtheartistatwork.,Idawantedtowatchtheartistatworkandaskedhimwhethershecould.,ConfusingShifts,ConfusingShiftsinNumberPointlessshiftsinnumberareanotherburdenthatnooneshouldplaceonhisreader.Considerthissentence:Ifstateparksbecometoocommercialized,theywillnolongerbeaplacetoescapethepressureofcitylife.Inhighschoolweworkedmoreasagroupthanasanindividual.,Ifstateparksbecometoocommercialized,theywillnolongerbeplacestoescapethepressureofcitylife.,Inhighschoolweworkedmoreasgroupsthanasindividuals.,ConfusingShifts,MixedSentenceConstructionWhenasentencetakesanypartswhichdonotfitgrammaticallyorlogically,ithasamixedconstruction.Hisjobwasapoliceman.2)Sincehewascomingwasthereasonforourexcitement.,Hewasapoliceman.,Hisjobwasthatofapoliceman.,Sincehewascomingwewereexcited.,Hiscomingwasthereasonforourexcitement.,ConfusingShifts,PracticePickoutthesentenceswhichhaveconfusingshiftsormixedconstruction,writetheirlettersintheblankstotheleft.Thefirstoneisdoneforyou.a1)a.WhenIgethomeIfoundshewaitedforme.b.WhenIgothomeIfoundshehadwaitedforme._2)a.Theywanttokeepfreshmanfromhavingcaroncampus.b.Theywanttokeepfreshmanfromhavingcarsoncampus._3)a.Firsttheycultivatedthegarden;thenthegrasswascut.b.Firsttheycultivatedthegarden;thentheycutthegrass._4)a.Whilewaitingformyturnbroughtonthenervousness.b.Whilewaitingformyturn,Igrewnervous._5)a.Byintensepracticecancausedramaticimprovement.b.Intensepracticecancausedramaticimprovement._6)a.Ifyouareboredhere,youcanalwaysgohome.b.Ifyouareboredhere,onecanalwaysgohome.,ConfusingShifts,PracticePickoutthesentenceswhichhaveconfusingshiftsormixedconstruction,writetheirlettersintheblankstotheleft.Thefirstoneisdoneforyou._7)a.Becausehewasinjured,hecannotplaytomorrow.b.Becauseheisinjured,hecannotplaytomorrow._8)a.Gailtoldherboyfriendpickmeupbeforenine.b.Gailtoldherboyfriendtopickmeupbeforenine._9)a.Bentookalltheclerksintheofficeoutforahamburger.b.Bentookalltheclerksintheofficeoutforhamburgers._10)a.Beforethemedicinearrivedcausedsomeanxiousmoments.b.Beforethemedicinearrivedthereweresomeanxiousmoments._11)a.Firsttheypaintedtheceilingflatwhite,andthentheypaintedthewallslimegreen.b.Firsttheypaintedtheceilingflatwhite,andthenthewallswerepaintedlimegreen.,ConfusingShifts,PracticePickoutthesentenceswhichhaveconfusingshiftsormixedconstruction,writetheirlettersintheblankstotheleft.Thefirstoneisdoneforyou._12)a.Kaufmanneededtoseehersometimebeforeshecangraduate.b.Kaufmanneedstoseehersometimebeforeshecangraduate._13)a.Ifyouareallreadytogo,youcangetyourcoatsnow.b.Ifeveryoneareallreadytogo,youcangetyourcoatsnow._14)a.WhatIreallywantedtoknowiswhereisthemoneycomingfrom.b.WhatIreallywanttoknowiswhereisthemoneycomingfrom._15)a.DadpreferredaJapanesecamera,likeaCanonoranOlympus.b.DadprefersaJapanesecamera,likeaCanonoranOlympus._16)a.Justbecausethepriceislowisnotenoughtoprovethatitwasstolen.b.Justbecausethepriceislow,youneednotassumethatitwasstolen.,ConfusingShifts,PracticePickoutthesentenceswhichhaveconfusingshiftsormixedconstruction,writetheirlettersintheblankstotheleft.Thefirstoneisdoneforyou._17)a.Whileyoucanneverbetoocareful,oneshouldnotbeexcessivelycautious.b.Whileonecanneverbetoocareful,oneshouldnotbeexcessivelycautious._18)a.Thewindwasawesome,andbrancheswerecrackinglikegunshots.b.Thewindwasawesome,andbranchesarecrackinglikegunshots._19)a.Sheaskedhimwouldntberatherjuststayhome.b.Sheaskedhimifhewouldntberatherjuststayhome._20)a.Peopleconvincethemselvesthattheywillneverhaveaccidents.b.PeopleconvincethemselvesthatIwillneverhaveanaccident.,ConfusingShifts,Practice2.RewritethewrongsentencesyouhavejustpickedoutinExercise1.3.Revisethesentencestogetridoftheconfusingshifts.Whenanyoneshowsup,theytellyoutocomerightin.AfterIarrived,theyaskedeverybodytotakeyourseat.Consuelaswaskeepingherbalancebutfinallyfalls.Thelightningflashes,thegreatoaksplitslikeapartingcurtain,andthetwohalvesfelltoeitherside.Thelionspranguponitsquarry,andtheantelopewaskilled.Wheneverhesawapineforestitremindedhimofthenighthespentonthemountains.IwasshockedwhenGregtoldmegetlost.Thefirmwantedtoknowwouldsheconsidertheiroffer.Aboveallelse,welovedhispaintingsoffloweringroses,aworkofgenius.10)Shehasneverwrittenabadbookbecausetheyarealltouchedbyherspecialtalent.,ConfusingShifts,Practice3.Revisethesentencestogetridoftheconfusingshifts.11)Wewerechanginglanesandthisguyhitsusfrombehind.12)Whereismygolfcardwasallthathecouldthinkabout.13)Shecreatedatleastonegooddesign,anditwa