lesson 3 sentence expansion

Lesson ThreeSentence Expansion

Dimensions of Language

Cultural

Dimension

Syntagmatic Dimension

Paradigmatic Dimension

1. Formal \ Informal2. Standard \ Nonstandard3. General \ Specific4. In Group \ Out Group

Word Categories

Reference Tools

Dictionary merriam-webster.com

Thesaurus

The Writing AssignmentWrite one or two paragraphs in which you describe and/or explain to one of your classmates your like

or dislike for writing in English.Length: 100 - 200 words

Due at the beginning of next week’s class.

Writing Advice

In fact, I like it, but can’t do it well. To begin with, I don’t always know how to get started when I am asked to write an essay in English

In fact, I pretty like it, but can’t do it well. To begin with, I always don’t know how to get start when I was asked to write an essay in English

Don’t always started

am

Writing Advice Many foreign teachers may feel surprised for the first

time they teach in China. And I also heard some of them complaining. They want us to write whatever we can think of, anything, any style. And that is what most of us want. because they

-- Page 12as well.

have

Many foreign teachers feel surprised the first time they teach in China. I have also heard some of them complaining because they want us to write whatever we can think of--anything, any style. And that is what most of us want as well.

Writing AdviceSometimes, I show great admiration for the great

masterpieces. Actually, I don’t know how could a person writes such works

Sometimes I show great admiration for the great masterpieces. I actually don’t know how a person could write such admirable works.

I actually don’t know how a person could

Sentence Expansion

A sentence base is the minimum required for a sentence. The most basic sentence contains a

noun phrase (NP) and a verb phrase (VP).

Sentence Bases

Mark ate.NP + VP

Sentence Base

Sentence Base

We can also add the following optional third elements to the clause:

an object (O)

a complement (C) and/or an adverbial (AV).

We add these elements to the clause to make a more informative sentence

Sentence Base

ObjectMark met Tracy.

Sentence Base

ComplementTracy seemed to be older.

Sentence Base

AdverbialMark fell in love the first time he saw her.

Sentence Expansion

1. Coordination 2. Subordination

Sentence Expansion

Coordination means “being of equal structural rank.”

Coordination occurs when we use a coordinator (or, and, but, nor, yet, so) to connect parts of a

sentence together.

Sentence Expansion

We can use coordination to connect words or phrases:

1. Mark was excited but nervous.2. He was excited about the feelings he had but

nervous because of his personality.

Sentence Expansion

We can use coordinated elements in the subject or the predicate.

Her beauty and excellent taste for food was

too much to resist..

The opportunity was new and exciting.

Sentence Expansion

Subordination means ‘being of lower structural rank.’

Words that are added to the bare sentence base are said to be subordinate because they are

grammatically secondary to the main elements.

Sentence Expansion

Subordinating elements modify the meaning of the sentence base.

We call theses subordinating elements modifiers. Modifiers are absolutely essential to writing

effectively because they provide vital, substantial, and specific information.

Sentence Expansion

Subordination 1. Relative Clauses

2. Appositive Phrases 3. Adverbial Clauses 4. Participial Phrases 5. Absolute Phrases

Sentence Expansion 1. Relative Clauses

Relative clauses enable the writer to embed a complete subject/predicate into a noun phrase.

Relative = relationship

Relative Clauses are introduced by either a relative pronoun (that, who, or which) or a

relative adverb (where, when, why)

Sentence Expansion 1. Relative Clauses

Example:1. Tracy invited Mark to sit down.2. They shared a pot of coffee.

What is the relationship between these two sentences? How can we make the

relationship more clear?

Sentence Expansion 1. Relative Clauses

Combining the sentences requires the use of a relative clause:

Tracy invited Mark to sit down where they shared a pot of coffee.

Sentence Expansion 2. Appositive Phrases

An appositive phrase is a reduced sentence headed by a noun, functioning, just like a relative clause, to define or restrict the noun by adding definition-like

details to it.

Appositive phrases rename nouns or noun phrases.

Sentence Expansion 2. Appositive Phrases

Example:

1. Tracy invited Mark to sit down, where they shared a pot of coffee.

2. Mark was an extremely shy person around girls.

Sentence Expansion 2. Appositive Phrases

‘Appositive’ simply means being ‘positioned’ next to something, generally a noun. Therefore, the

most common and expected sentence position for the appositive phrase is immediately after the noun

it expands.

Mark, being an extremely shy person around girls, was invited by Tracy to sit down, where they

shared a pot of coffee.

Sentence Expansion 2. Appositive Phrases

However, we can also place them at the beginning or the end of a sentence.

These are fairly unusual sentence patterns (especially the latter) and are considered fairly

dramatic, so they will usually come as a surprise to the reader and will send the message that the writer

has taken pains in crafting the sentence.

Sentence Expansion 2. Appositive Phrases

An extremely shy person, Mark was invited by Tracy to sit down, where they shared a pot of

coffee.

At the beginning of the sentence the appositive phrase will tend to put more stress on the subject.

Sentence Expansion 2. Appositive Phrases

Mark was invited by Tracy to sit down for a cup of coffee an extremely nervous boy when around

girls.

At the end of the sentence the appositive phrase will be the focus of the sentence.

Sentence Expansion 2. Appositive Phrases

Introductory Appositive Series Upset stomach, sweaty palms, and shaking leg

syndrome—all these symptoms caused Mark to act very strangely.

The subject of the sentence is all these symptoms; the list of appositives names the symptoms.

Sentence Expansion 3. Adverbial Clauses

Adverbial clauses (subordinating) are clauses that modify verbs using a subordinator.

Examples of subordinating words:

if, since,when, while, although, even though, after, before as if, as long as, as soon as

Sentence Expansion 3. Adverbial Clauses

Example:When Tracy allowed me to, I wanted to ask her

out on a date.

Sentence Expansion 3. Adverbial Clauses

Two frequent problems with adverbial clauses:

1. The wrong idea gets subordinated2. The meaning of the subordinator is imprecise

Sentence Expansion 3. Adverbial Clauses

1. The wrong idea gets subordinated

Example:1.When Tracy allowed me to, I wanted to ask her

out on a date.

2. Tracy allowed me to, when I wanted to ask her out on a date.

Sentence Expansion 3. Adverbial Clauses

2. The meaning of the subordinator is imprecise

Example:1. When Tracy allowed me to, I wanted to take her

out on a date.

2. If Tracy allowed me to, I wanted to take her out on a date.

Sentence Expansion 3. Adverbial Clauses

Adverbial clauses can be placed in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

Sentence Expansion 3. Adverbial Clauses

At the beginning of a sentence, adverbial clauses can function as a cohesive link between known and

unknown information.When Tracy allowed me to, I wanted to take her

out on a date.I wanted to take Tracy out on a date, when she

allowed me to.

Notice the change in focus when we change the position.

Sentence Expansion 3. Adverbial Clauses

Placing an adverbial clause in the middle of a sentence will interrupt the flow of the sentence and slow the reader down.

They add stress and length to the words they modify and changes the rhythm.

I wanted, when Tracy allowed me, to take her out on a date.

Next Week:Sentence Expansion & Sentence Combining

The Reading AssignmentPreview Chapter 3, pgs 57-74 for next week’s class

The Writing Assignment

Write one paragraph in which you describe your future career goals and intellectual interests to the faculty of the English Department.

Write another paragraph in which you describe your future career goals and intellectual interests to a Canadian third-year university student.