ADVANCED WRITING GRAMMAR CLINIC CARDS INDEX

Transcription

1 ADVANCED WRITING GRAMMAR CLINIC CARDS INDEX Card 01 Punctuation: Semi-Colon (;) Card 02 Semicolon with a Connecting Word Card 03 Subject-Verb Agreement Card 04 The Colon (:) Card 05 Relative Pronouns Card 06 Relative Pronouns: Defining & Non-Defining Card 07 Relative Pronouns: Defining & Non-Defining Card 08 Participial Phrases Card 09 Participial Phrases: Error Correction Card 10 Active Voice Card 11 Omitting Needless Words

2 ADVANCED WRITING Card 01 PUNCTUATION: SEMICOLON (;) As you know, a semi-colon separates parts of sentences. Read the statements below and insert a semicolon in each of them. 1. I spoke to Linda on Monday she can t come to the meeting tomorrow. 2. Peter is not only my brother he is also my best traveling companion. 3. Anne looked at the painting in awe she had never seen anything like it before. 4. Many people don t speak English nevertheless some of them travel abroad every year. 5. Jane is a wonderful boss she always chats with each employee whenever possible. 6. Jim is so persuasive he cajoled me into helping with the dinner. 7. My father was ecstatic yesterday he was finally promoted. 8. I can t eat chocolate in fact I m allergic to it. 9. Speeding is illegal furthermore it is very dangerous. 10. Some people have the ability to write well others do not.

3 ADVANCED WRITING Card 01 PUNCTUATION: SEMICOLON (;) ANSWER KEY: 1....Monday; she can t my brother; he is also in awe; she had 4....English; nevertheless, some boss; she persuasive; he cajoled yesterday; he was chocolate; in fact, I m illegal; furthermore, it is write well; others do not.

4 ADVANCED WRITING Card 02 SEMICOLON WITH A CONNECTING WORD (;) Use a semicolon plus a connecting word and a comma to join the two clauses in each of the following sentences. E.g. I don t eat chocolate; in fact, I m allergic to it. 1. It was raining she went for a walk. 2. Clark used to enjoy eating out he enjoyed having friends over for dinner. 3. You have worked hard this week I will give you one day off. 4. Maria doesn t have a lot of money she has managed to tuck away some for her upcoming trip. 5. They decided not to buy a house they rented one. 6. Joseph forgot his plane ticket at home he missed his plane. 7. My doctor recommended that I not eat junk food anymore my gastritis would get worse.

5 ADVANCED WRITING Card 02 SEMICOLON WITH A CONNECTING WORD (;) ANSWER KEY: 1. It was raining; however, she went for a walk. 2. Clark used to enjoy eating out; also, he enjoyed having friends over for dinner. 3. You have worked hard this week; therefore, I will give you one day off. 4. Maria doesn t have a lot of money; nevertheless, she has managed to tuck away some for her upcoming trip. 5. They decided not to buy a house; instead, they rented one. 6. Joseph forgot his plane ticket at home; consequently, he missed his plane. 7. My doctor recommended that I not eat junk food anymore; otherwise, my gastritis would get worse.

6 ADVANCED WRITING Card 03 SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT Decide which verb form to use in each of the following sentences. 1. What (is, are) the criteria for electing the managers of this department? 2. I have three sisters, two of which (is, are) married. 3. Everyone (is, are) entitled to fringe benefits at this company. 4. Hatred and vengeance (has, have) always been equated with war. 5. None of us really (knows, know) what the news (was, were) about. 6. Would you like a Guaraná or a Coke? I don t care; either one (is, are) fine. 7. I m afraid neither Paul nor Peter (is, are) ready. 8. Many foreign businessmen tend to assume that most of us (is, are) fluent in English. 9. People who (votes, vote) (is, are) actively participating as citizens. 10. The bike, along with the helmet, (costs, cost) $99.

7 ADVANCED WRITING Card 03 SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT ANSWER KEY: 1. are 2. are 3. is 4. have 5. knows (formal) / was 6. is 7. is 8. are 9. vote / are 10. costs

8 ADVANCED WRITING Card 04 THE COLON (:) As you know, the colon is used at the end of a complete statement to introduce a list, a long quotation, or an explanation. It is always followed by two spaces, like the period. Insert a colon in each of the following sentences: 1. You are the one we are looking for someone who can write and read well in English. 2. There are many ways you can travel to Buenos Aires by car, by bus, by ship or by plane. 3. He ended up getting what he didn t really expect a promotion. 4. The garden had been neglected for a long time it was overgrown and full of weeds. 5. Julia s roommate complained to her You never wash the dishes, you forget to buy food, and I always have to do the laundry. 6. These are our options we go by train and leave before the end of the show, or we take a car and see it all.

9 ADVANCED WRITING Card 04 THE COLON (:) ANSWER KEY: 1....looking for: someone Buenos Aires: by car really expect: a promotion long time: it was... (a semicolon or a period, but not a comma, may be used instead of a colon here.) 5....to her: You never our options: we go...

10 ADVANCED WRITING Card 05 RELATIVE PRONOUNS As you know, relative pronouns introduce a dependent clause and relate it to the rest of the sentence. Complete each sentence with the correct relative pronouns. 1. Some students like sitting with someone likes taking notes. 2. There are certain drivers shouldn t be driving. 3. Being hired by companies are renowned is the goal of many business school graduates. 4. That s the secretary I told you about. 5. This is the girl brother is abroad. 6. He doesn t remember anything was said. 7. Vinícius de Moraes was a Brazilian composer became popular worldwide for his bossa nova songs. 8. I know employees can type pretty fast.

11 ADVANCED WRITING Card 05 RELATIVE PRONOUNS ANSWER KEY: 1. who / that 2. who / that 3. which / that 4. who / that / whom 5. whose 6. that / which 7. who / that 8. that / who

12 ADVANCED WRITING Card 06 RELATIVE PRONOUNS: DEFINING & NON-DEFINING Clauses that are introduced by relative pronouns are adjective clauses, and they are of two types: defining and non-defining. While the former is not set off by commas, the latter is. Add the necessary punctuation to the following sentences. 1. He bought a car which had power steering. 2. Brazil which is a developing country is going through another economic crisis. 3. Those two applicants who know a foreign language have a head start over the others. 4. Cynthia who is always laughing is never sick. 5. The city that has the greatest number of cars is São Paulo. 6. He is very direct with his boss who is very blunt herself. 7. They bought a huge house for the two of them which, to me, was nonsense. 8. I like working with people who are collaborative and witty. 9. Competition which can often be destructive can sometimes help increase production.

13 ADVANCED WRITING Card 06 RELATIVE PRONOUNS: DEFINING & NON-DEFINING ANSWER KEY: 1. He bought a car which had power steering. 2. Brazil, which is a developing country, is going through another economic crisis. 3. Those two applicants who know a foreign language have a head start over the others. 4. Cynthia, who is always laughing, is never sick. 5. The city that has the greatest number of cars is São Paulo. 6. He is very direct with his boss, who is very blunt herself. 7. They bought a huge house for the two of them, which, to me, was nonsense. 8. I like working with people who are collaborative and witty. 9. Competition, which can often be destructive, can sometimes help increase production.

14 ADVANCED WRITING Card 07 RELATIVE PRONOUNS: DEFINING & NON-DEFINING Clauses that are introduced by relative pronouns are adjective clauses, and they are of two types: defining and non-defining. While the former is not set off by commas, the latter is. Combine each pair of sentences into one sentence, and add any necessary punctuation. 1. The new mayor promised to build new hospitals and schools within the next year. She doesn t have a generous budget. 2. Gilberto Gil is a singer and composer from Bahia. He travels worldwide. 3. Mary needs to hand in a 10-page report tomorrow. Her printer is not working. 4. The person can be found at the bursar s office upstairs. You are looking for the person. 5. The book was written by the writer. The writer defended polemic work ethics. 6. My parents love listening to Nat King Cole. He has a wonderful voice. 7. Tony bought a beautiful used car. Its gas gauge doesn t work.

15 ADVANCED WRITING Card 07 RELATIVE PRONOUNS: DEFINING & NON-DEFINING ANSWER KEY: (possible answers) 1. The new mayor, who doesn t have a generous budget, promised to build new hospitals and schools within the next year. 2. Gilberto Gil, who travels worldwide, is a singer and composer from Bahia. 3. Mary, whose printer is not working, needs to hand in a 10-page report tomorrow. 4. The person who/that you are looking for can be found at the bursar s office upstairs. 5. The book was written by the writer who/that (had) defended polemic work ethics. 6. My parents love listening to Nat King Cole, who has a wonderful voice. 7. Tony bought a beautiful used car whose gas gauge doesn t work.

16 ADVANCED WRITING Card 08 PARTICIPIAL PHRASES A participial phrase is a reduced clause and can take two forms: the -ed and the ing. Remember that the participial phrase refers to the grammatical subject of the sentence. Re-write these sentences using participial phrases. 1. The councilman finished drafting the bill and then he adjourned the meeting. 2. Simon staggered home because he was feeling dizzy. 3. The little boy is never late. He goes to school by bus. 4. The young woman was walking in the rain and got wet. 5. Steve was munching on his sandwich. He read the whole newspaper. 6. Jane glared at her boyfriend dancing with another woman because she felt betrayed.

17 ADVANCED WRITING Card 08 PARTICIPIAL PHRASES ANSWER KEY: 1. Having finished drafting the bill, the councilman adjourned the meeting. 2. Feeling dizzy, Simon staggered home. 3. Going to school by bus, the little boy is never late. 4. Walking in the rain, the young woman got wet. 5. Munching on his sandwich, Steve read the newspaper. 6. Feeling betrayed, Jane glared at her boyfriend dancing with another woman.

18 ADVANCED WRITING Card 09 PARTICIPIAL PHRASES: Error Correction A participial phrase is a reduced clause and can take two forms: the -ed and the ing. Remember that the participial phrase refers to the grammatical subject of the sentence. Correct the following sentences: 1. Having arrived late at night, his driver picked him up at the airport. 2. Feeling sick, the bumpy road made the little boy feel even worse. 3. Having been returned from the U.S., she mailed her letter again with the correct address. 4. Demanding silence, the students stared at the teacher shouting at them. 5. Having been published long ago, the writer will revise his book soon.

19 ADVANCED WRITING Card 09 PARTICIPIAL PHRASES: Error Correction ANSWER KEY: 1. Having arrived late at night, he was picked up at the airport by his driver. 2. Feeling sick, the little boy felt even worse riding on that bumpy road. 3. Having been returned from the U.S., her letter was mailed again with the correct address. 4. Demanding silence, the teacher shouted at the students, who were staring at him. 5. Having been published long ago, the book will need revision soon.

20 ADVANCED WRITING Card 10 ACTIVE VOICE Active voice is when the grammatical subject of the sentence is the doer of the action. The active voice is often used when it s important to emphasize who performed the action. Change the following sentences into the active voice where possible: 1. He s a slacker. He always needs to be told to clean up his room by his mom. 2. The car could have been rented at Hertz, but they ended up picking Alamo. 3. He was hugged by her on his birthday. 4. The employees production was affected by the non-stop pressure. 5. He was cheated by his dishonest colleague. 6. Sorry, we had already been invited to stay longer the day before you made the reservation. 7. The meeting was called off by the committee.

21 ADVANCED WRITING Card 10 ACTIVE VOICE ANSWER KEY: 1. He s a slacker. His mom always needs to tell him to clean up his room. 2. They could have rented the car at Hertz, but they ended up picking Alamo. 3. She hugged him on his birthday. 4. The non-stop pressure affected the employees production. 5. His dishonest colleague cheated him. 6. Sorry, they had invited us to stay longer the day before you made the reservation. 7. The committee called off the meeting.

22 ADVANCED WRITING Card 11 OMITTING NEEDLESS WORDS Some expressions can be shortened in order to make sentences more effective and carry more force. Look at the sentences below and try to write them in the most concise form possible, omitting all needless words. 1. This is a city that makes people wonder. 2. Not knowing how to speak English is considered a disadvantage by many companies. 3. The question as to whether or not cigarette advertising should be banned needs careful consideration. 4. Mary was very hard-working. This led her to be promoted to a higher position. This thrilled her. 5. Violence, which is a growing problem, has created a great deal of panic among Brazilian people. 6. The fact that Sue had not passed last semester s course didn t discourage her; she decided to study even harder.

23 ADVANCED WRITING Card 11 OMITTING NEEDLESS WORDS ANSWER KEY: This city makes people wonder. Many companies consider knowing how to speak English an advantage. Whether or not cigarette advertising should be banned needs careful consideration. Mary s hard work led her to be promoted to a higher position, which thrilled her. Violence, a growing problem, has created a great deal of panic among Brazilian people. Not having passed last semester s course motivated Sue to study even harder.