Use of language Sentence structure Guide to academic writing in businessⅨ
Use of language – Sentence structure Guide to academic writing in business IX
Subordination (主从关系) The most difficult sentence structures for chinese students Definitⅰon The grammatical structure that contains clauses with a relative pronoun(关系代词)(eg,Who, which,that) or a subordinating conjunction(主从关系的连接词(eg, because, although, since, if, when, after) Metaphor(比喻) English sentences: like oak trees(subordinated in multiple layers Chinese sentences: like bamboos flow one after another)
Subordination (主从关系) The most difficult sentence structures for Chinese students • Definition: • The grammatical structure that contains – clauses with a relative pronoun (关系代词) (e.g., who, which, that) or – a subordinating conjunction (主从关系的连接词) (e.g., because, although, since, if, when, after) Metaphor (比喻): • English sentences: like oak trees (subordinated in multiple layers) • Chinese sentences: like bamboos (flow one after another)
Subordination (主从关系) To turn a bamboo into an oak tree, chinese learners should avoid: Choppy sentences(a succession of simple, short sentences Stringy sentences(a group of sentences stringing together with"and "but, then") Run-on sentences(two or more independent sentences joined by a comma) y Using subordination
Subordination (主从关系) To turn a bamboo into an oak tree, Chinese learners should avoid: • Choppy sentences (a succession of simple, short sentences) • Stringy sentences (a group of sentences stringing together with “and,” “but,” “then”) Or • Run-on sentences (two or more independent sentences joined by a comma) by • Using subordination
Choppy sentences Shanghai has a population of over fifteen million It is one of the largest cities in the world Subordination: Shanghai, a city with a population of over fifteen million, is one of the largest cities in the world
Choppy sentences • Shanghai has a population of over fifteen million. It is one of the largest cities in the world. • Subordination: – Shanghai, a city with a population of over fifteen million, is one of the largest cities in the world
Choppy sentences The us fast food business is one of the most advanced in the world It has brought China many benefits. But the benefits extend far beyond providing consumers more choices Subordination: The us fast food business. one of the most advanced in the world, has brought China many benefits that extend far beyond providing consumers more choices
Choppy sentences • The US fast food business is one of the most advanced in the world. It has brought China many benefits. But the benefits extend far beyond providing consumers more choices. • Subordination: – The US fast food business, one of the most advanced in the world, has brought China many benefits that extend far beyond providing consumers more choices
Stringy sentences The Internet is a large source of information and it provides almost anything people want to know and so the number of the users is increasing rapidly Subordination: The number of the users is increasing rapidly as the Internet, a large source of information, provides almost anything people want to know
Stringy sentences • The Internet is a large source of information and it provides almost anything people want to know and so the number of the users is increasing rapidly. • Subordination: – The number of the users is increasing rapidly as the Internet, a large source of information, provides almost anything people want to know
Stringy sentences Shanghai is famous as a paradise for shopping and there are many modern stores, and prices there are usually lower and also there are a wider variety of items Subordination: Shanghai is famous as a paradise for shopping where there are many modern stores with lower prices and a wider variety of items
Stringy sentences • Shanghai is famous as a paradise for shopping, and there are many modern stores, and prices there are usually lower and also there are a wider variety of items. • Subordination: – Shanghai is famous as a paradise for shopping where there are many modern stores with lower prices and a wider variety of items
Run-on sentences Teachers play a very important role in education their social status should be improved Subordination: Teachers play such an important role in education that their social status should be improved
Run-on sentences • Teachers play a very important role in education, their social status should be improved. • Subordination: – Teachers play such an important role in education that their social status should be improved
Run-on sentences Relationships in the Internet can be complicated, the person speaking through the other side of the line can disguise his/her true personality Subordination: Relationships in the Internet can be complicated because the person speaking through the other side of the line can disguise his/ her true personality
Run-on sentences • Relationships in the Internet can be complicated, the person speaking through the other side of the line can disguise his/ her true personality. • Subordination: – Relationships in the Internet can be complicated because the person speaking through the other side of the line can disguise his/ her true personality
Exercises Improve the following sentences by using subordinate clauses For example Freshmen often face many problems, most of the problems can be solved by themselves alone Subordination: Freshmen often face many problems, most of which can be solved by themselves alone
Exercises Improve the following sentences by using subordinate clauses. For example: • Freshmen often face many problems, most of the problems can be solved by themselves alone. • Subordination: – Freshmen often face many problems, most of which can be solved by themselves alone