The Clause ‘A clause is a group of words that has at least one subject and at least one predicate. A predicate is the verb plus the rest of the words that come after the verb. Robert went to the park yesterda In this example, Robert is the subject and went to the park yesterday is the predicate. ‘Are the following examples clauses? = Peter and Jenny * Cooks dinner = Inthe morning The first example Peter and Jenny is not a clause because it does not have a predicate (verb + the rest). The second example Cooks dinner is not a clause because it does not contain a subject. The third example Jn the morning is not a clause because it has neither a subject nor aver. Sometimes clauses contain only a subject and a verb; the ver Tom slept. not followed by anything In this example, although nothing comes after the verb slept, this group of words Tom slept is still a clause. This is possible if the clause includes an intransitive verb, a verb that has no direct object. Short answers are also considered a clause. Yes, he is. No, she hasn't. We will. An imperative clause is a clause that contains an imperative verb, a verb that expresses an order, and does not usually contain a subject. 2° The ClauseClose your eyes. Leave the door open, please. Take a deep breath. Wash the vegetables thoroughly before eating. Be careful! Don't smoke in the waiting room. Don't be hasty. Are the following clauses or not? Write YES or NO. 1. Jimhas a car YES 2. With my friend NO 3. This bird can't fly 4, After having lunch 5. Ifhe opens the door 6. Yes, he does 7. Jane has a 8. Sara has 9. Bob will work this evening 10. Go Write ten clauses. Types of Clauses There are two types of clauses: main clauses and dependent clauses. ‘A main clause is a clause that has a complete grammatical structure [subject + verb (+ the rest)] and a complete meaning. Robin is busy with a customer at the moment, Jane was working. The True Color of Writing 3‘A dependent clause is a clause that has a complete grammatical structure [subject + verb (+ the rest)], but not a complete meaning, Ifyou are hungry Before Stepania plays the piano It is sometimes hard to differentiate between a main clause and a dependent clause. Check if the following clauses are main or dependent, = Llike it = She is smart Although the above clauses do not specify what it and who she refer to, both of them are main clauses. The best way to identify dependent clauses is by checking the beginning of the clause. Dependent clauses always start with a clause adverb, also called an adverb connector. The following are some clause adverbs that come at the beginning of a dependent clause. Clause Adverbs before, after, when, while, as, since, as soon as, once, the moment (that), until, as long as, by the time, whenever. because, as, since, inasmuch as, now (that), in that, so (that), on the grounds that, in order i if, as long as, on condition (that), providing (that), provided (that), unless, in case, whether, even if, no matter how, or else, however many. although, though, even though, while, whereas. Where, except (that), wherever. 4° The ClauseClauses that begin with the above adverbs are dependent clauses. However, other types of adverbs may come at the beginning of clauses which are not necessarily dependent clauses. They may be main clauses. Usually Jim asks awkward questions. Recently Terry took a job as a cashier. Maybe when I have free time In the first two examples, usually and recently are not clause adverbs. So whether the two clauses in these examples contain these adverbs or not, these clauses have a complete meaning and they are, therefore, main clauses. In the third example, maybe is not a clause adverb; however, if we omit it, the clause still does not have a complete meaning becauise maybe is followed by the clause adverb when, and therefore this clause is dependent. Are the following clauses main (M) or dependent (D)? 1, Until we find the ring 2. Mike and Tom are roommates 3. Because Jerry is sick ; 4, When he opened the door 5. Sometimes Linda plays tennis 6. When did he arrive? 7. Though Sam was tired 8 Whereas Tim finished the report in time 9. Finally he could relax 10. She couldn't sleep after drinking coffee Write ten main clauses and ten dependent clauses. ‘The True Color of Writing 5The Sentence A sentence is a group of words that has at least one main clause. ‘The manager is talking about a spending plan. main clause Canada is a big country whereas Singapore is a small one. main clause dependent clause ‘While Sally was driving, she saw a bear. dependent clause ‘main clause Robert was very hungry, but he didn't eat anything. All the examples above are sentences because they each contain at least one main clause. Types of Sentences In English, there are four types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound- complex. Simple Sentences ‘A simple sentence is a sentence that has only ONE main clause. It has NO dependent clause. Bob and Jane are working in the yard. Sam is 17 years old, so he can't join the army this year. After Mark has graduated from high school, he will go to university. ‘The first sentence is a simple sentence because it has one main clause and no dependent clause. The second sentence is NOT a simple sentence because it has two main clauses. The third sentence is NOT a simple sentence because it contains a dependent clause. Are the following simple sentences or not? Write YES or NO. 1. Ifyou are sick, you should see a doctor. NO 2. Nick must stay home because he needs to study for his exam. NO 3. Every day we receive many letters. 8 The Sentence4. Open this box. 5. Robin turned on the stereo and listened to musi 6. Robin turned on the stereo and he listened to music. 7. They practiced very hard in order to get a result, 8 9. 1 She understands English but can't speak it very well. Jim is young, so he doesn't earn much money. (0. Mike will apply for a job yet will not work full-time. Write ten simple sentences. Compound Sentences A compound sentence is a sentence that has two or more main clauses. It has NO dependent clause. Jerry is a tall boy, and he is extremely handsome. main clause mala clause Mark is retired, so he has more leisure time now. riain clause ‘main clause ‘You can rent an apartment, or you can live in the dorm, but you can't stay in a hotel. ‘main clause ‘main clause Inain clause All the examples above are compound sentences. The main clauses are connected with a conjunction. There are two groups of conjunctions: and, but, or, so, yet. These conjunctions join the two main clauses, and a comma is used before the conjunction to separate the clauses. It's a small house, but it is surprisingly expensive. conjunction If and is used between the two main clauses and if the second clause is short, the comma is optional. James is a student, and he works for a design company. comma optional ‘The True Color of Writing 9A.comma is not usually used if the conjunction does not connect two main clauses. James is a student and works for a design company. ‘main clause ‘ot a clause Amy is an adult yet can't cover her expenses. ‘main clause ‘not a clause If the conjunction connects three or more verbs, a comma is used before each verb except the first, and the conjunction is used before the last. Linda yacuumed the carpets, dusted the tables, and wiped the windows. verb 1 verb 2 verb 3 Insert a comma where it is needed. 1, Jimis very sociable so makes friends easily. 2. Nelly has saved some money but she still can't buy a car. 3. Arthur plays golf goes jogging and does karate. 4. The office will be closed next week yet I will work in the mornings. 5. He wants to study chemistry or he may opt for mathematics. 6. You can take the blue shirt or the black one, 7. Jerry was fired so he is looking for a new job. 8. Finish your breakfast and drink your tea. 9. Iwish to ask you a question and would like you to answer it honestly. 10, He looked tired and so depressed. Write ten compound sentences using Group-A conjunctions. however, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast, on the contrary, just the g [ therefore, thus, hence, for this reason, as a result, consequently, in consequence, as a consequence, in conclusion. moreover, furthermore, in addition, also. first, next, then, after that, afierward, finally. 10 The Sentence‘for example, for instance. In other words, that is, i.e. otherwise, instead, in fact. ‘These conjunctions, also called conjunctive adverbs, are used between two main clauses. A semicolon (;) comes before the conjunction, and a comma (,) comes after the conjunction. “Beactiple Cyndi is very smart; however, she can't manage her time effectively. Larry couldn't open the door; therefore, he called a locksmith. ‘There are many ways to improve your English; for example, you can improve your vocabulary by reading a lot. Young z people are more vulnerable to addiction; in other words, they can easily become addicted. It is a good idea to commu tell everyone our secrets. te with different people; on the other hand, we should not The first thing to do is to sort the mail; after that, we ought to get rid of any unwanted letters. ‘Sometimes Group-B conjunctions don't come between two main clauses. They might appear in one of the main clauses. In this case, the conjunction is set off with commas. Example: Greg ate spoilt food; he, therefore, suffered a serious case of food poisoning. ‘Megan is a wealthy person; she is, however, unhappy. ‘Sandra is a woman of many talents; she can, for example, speak several languages. Notice that the conjunction, just like an adverb, comes before the main verb, but after the (modal) auxiliary verb. And just like an adverb, most conjunctions can come at the end of the sentence. In this ease, a comma (,) is used before the conjunction and a period (.) after it. He was extremely angry; he suppressed his feelings, nevertheless. Leopards hunt alone; they are not social animals, as a result. ‘The True Color of Writing 11‘A compound sentence can have more than two main clauses, and it can contain both Group-A conjunctions and Group-B conjunctions. Brad ate too much; therefore, he got a stomachache, but he didn't go to the hospital Group-B conjunction Group-A conjunction Mark wanted to go hiking, so he put on a windbreaker; moreover, he packed a few sandwiches. ‘Group-A conjunction Group-B conjunction Ifa Group-A conjunction comes before a Group-B conjunction, a comma is used before the Group-A conjunction. Example, Mike drank too much coffee yesterday evening, and as a result he lay awake all ‘Gr-A Group-B conjunction In this example, it is possible for the Group-B conjunction to be set off with commas. Mike drank too much coffee yesterday evening, and, as a result, he lay awake all night. When a Group-B conjunction comes between two main clauses, it is possible to use a period (.) instead of a semicolon (;) before the conjunction, But in this case, we will have two simple senfences instead of one compound sentence. Example ‘You should wear warm clothes. Otherwise, you will catch a cold. | Group ~ | Dependent | Main, Gr A dep | Main 3 GroupB | , | Dependent | Main: Gr B, dep Dependent 5 Group A’ ~~ | Main ‘Dep, Gr A main Dependent}; | GroupB | Main Dep; Gr B, main 16 The SentenceInsert a punctuation mark where it is needed. 1. Alison wishes to register for this course moreover she would like to join the gym because she wants to lose weight. 2. While Kris was listening to music the electricity went off hence she opted to read a book. 3. Jim has to finish working on the farm before it gets dark otherwise he will have to leave it until tomorrow. 4, Jacob is majoring in law but if he wants to work for our company he should study accounting, 5. Overseas students need to send their IELTS test results as soon as they receive them through the mail but they can send the other documents in the coming days. 6. Providing that all passengers are on board the ship will depart so the departure time may change. 7. The teacher gave a clear demonstration of the new lesson yet so many students were confused inasmuch as the lesson involved numerous unfamiliar terms. 8. This is a delicate process therefore as you are working toward a solution you need to pay close attention, 9. The space mission is expected to last for ten days it will not take twelve days due to a lack of funds. 10. Open the box after that fill it with the items necessary for the trip then close it again before you put it in the trunk, Write ten Compound-complex sentences. Insert a punctuation mark where it is needed, and indicate what type of sentence each of the following is. 1. Forward planning could produce the desired results and may contribute to an ultimate triumph. 2. Minor errors seem unimportant however they might hinder a person's progress in Teaming a language when they are ignored. 3. Unless we come up with an innovative scheme we will not be able to approach the task in a practical way. 4, Students may achieve low grades when they start to study at a university because they move to a new learning environment. 5. Prices will have soared by the end of the year that is everything will be expensive by then 6. A sombrero is a Mexican hat with a tall center and a wide round brim. 7. A typhoon could reach a speed of about 200 kilometers per hour thus it can be very destructive. 8. A spider is not classified as an insect in that the body of the spider is divided into two parts while the insect's body consists of three parts, 9. As the days are short in Sweden in the winter people tend to stay indoors after dusk and they usually have an early night, 10, Sam was late for the meeting he therefore apologized to the people. ‘The True Color of Writing 17The phrase ; ‘A phrase is a group of words that does NOT have a subject and/or a verb. Jeff and Tony > phrase » missing verb Cooks dinner > phrase » missing subject In the morning > phrase > missing subject and verb With Tom > phrase > missing subject and verb Next to the door > phrase » missing subject and verb To attract people's attention > phrase > missing subject and/or verb Working alone > phrase > missing subject and/or verb While walking in the park > phrase > missing subject and verb The Use of Phrases in Sentences Sentences do not consist of merely clauses; phrases are also a part of the sentence. Phrases function as dependent clauses in terms of punctuation; that is, if a phrase comes before @ main clause, a comma is usually used between them. But if a phrase comes after a main clause, a comma is not usually used. 7 Before dinner, Sara drank a cup of tea. phrase sain clause Jane took a shower in the morning. inaln clause phrase The use of the comma between a phrase and a main clause is optional and depends on the length and complexity of the phrase. If the phrase is short and simple, it is not necessary to use a comma. Last year () John won a gold med Phrase inaln clause However, if the phrase is long or if itis difficult to identify where the phrase ends and where the main clause that follows it begins, a comma is used, as a sign, to separate the phrase from the main clause. After the heavy rain in Madrid, many roads were blocked. phrase main clause Before leaving, Tom together with his friends checked the car tires and the oil. phrase ‘main clause AR The SentenceIt may be necessary to use a comma in the above examples to avoid confusing the reader. In the second example, if the comma is not used, the reader may think that Tom is a part of the phrase Before leaving. ‘A.comma is not used if.a phrase comes after a main clause. However, if the phrase is negative or contrasts with the statement in the main clause, a comma is normally used. I will call you at 3 pm, not at 2 pm. main clause Degative phrase John will attend the lecture, although sick. ‘main clause contrasting phrase A comma is also used after a main clause that is followed by a phrase if it is difficult to identify where the main clause ends and where the phrase that follows it begins. He ran, out of fear. ‘main "phrase Reduced Dependent Clauses A reduced dependent clause is a clause whose subject and verb are omitted, or a part of the verb is omitted. In other words, a reduced dependent clause is a phrase. ‘Though he is sick, h ‘dependent clause working hard. Though sick, he is working hard. ‘educed dependent clause = phrase While Laura was shopping, she lost her keys. ‘dependent clause While shopping, Laura lost her keys. ‘reduced dependent clause = phrase If the dependent clause contains the verb be, the subject and the verb be are omitted. The True Color of Writing 19If you are late, you should call us. dependent clause Iflate, you should call us. reduced dependent clause = phrase ‘When Sam was home, he dusted the sitting room. “ependent clause ‘When home, Sam dusted the sitting room. Feduced dependent clause If the dependent clause does not contain the verb be, omit the subject and change the verb into the -ing form. Before Jim goes to school, he has a hearty breakfast. ‘dependent clause Before going to school, Jim has a hearty breakfast. reduced dependent clause = phrase Robert went for a picnic in the country after he repaired his car. ‘dependent clause Robert went for a picnic in the country after repairing his car. reduced dependent clause = phrase Not all dependent clauses can be reduced. Some dependent clauses can be reduced if the verb of the dependent clause is in the active form, whereas other dependent clauses can be reduced if the verb is in the passive form. Reducing a dependent clause depends on the adverb of the dependent clause. After the sheep were slaughtered, they were sent to Australia. dependent clause In this sentence, the dependent clause After the sheep were slaughtered CANNOT be reduced because the dependent clause begins with the adverb afier. Clauses that begin with the adverb after can be reduced if the verb of the dependent clause is in the active form. The verb was slaughtered is in the passive form. 20 The SentenceAfter the farmer slaughtered the sheep, he sent them to Australia. dependent clause In this sentence, the dependent clause After the farmer slaughtered the sheep CAN be reduced because the verb slaughtered is in the active form. After slaughtering the sheep, the farmer sent them to Australia, ‘reduced dependent clause = phrase a il he found it. Greg searched for the picture “dependent clause The dependent clause until he found it CANNOT be reduced because dependent clauses that begin with the adverb until can be reduced if the verb of the dependent clause is in the passive form. The verb found is in the active form. ‘The prisoner kept protesting until he was released. dependent clause The dependent clause until he was released CAN be reduced because the verb was released is in the passive form. The prisoner kept protesting until released. Feduced dependent clause = phrase If the verb of a dependent clause is aetive, the clause can be reduced when it begins with the following adverbs: If the verb of a dependent clause is passive, the clause can be reduced when it begins with the following adverbs: The True Color of Writing 21Reduce the dependent clauses in the following sentences. If the dependent clause does not reduce, write DNR. 1. If water is heated, it boils at 100°C. 2. Since the room was not cleaned, it was not ready to use. 3. When lion catches its prey, it knocks the prey down and breaks its neck. 4. Ifyou are sick, you should stay in bed. 5. Although John is young, he takes care of his parents. 6. Once Sam graduated from high school, he started to work. 7. Before the area was settled, it was a barren desert. 8. The black widow kills the male after it mates with the male. 9. The document is not valid unless it is stamped. ‘Write ten sentences containing reduced dependent clauses. Adjective Clauses An adjective clause is a clause which describes the noun that it follows. “Exaile Mark painted the house which he bought last week. Ba eat tae In the above example, which he bought last week is an adjective clause that describes the noun the house, which comes before the adjective clause. Examples: ‘The woman who will give a speech at the wedding is the bride's mother. ‘noun adjective clause 22 The SentenceIn the above example, who will give a speech at the wedding is an adjective clause that describes the noun The woman, which comes before the adjective clause. The adjective clause normally begins with a relative pronoun. The following table shows the relative pronouns that come at the beginning of the adjective clause. If the relative pronoun refers to a person and if the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb in the adjective clause, who or that can be used. adjective clause Scott is thé pilot who/that rescued the passengers. subject verb If the relative pronoun refers fo a person and if the relative pronoun is not the subject of the verb in the adjective clause, who, whom, or that can be used. adjective clause Jerry is the only friend who/vhom/that I really trust. object ubject verb If the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb in the adjective clause, the relative pronoun CANNOT be omitted. If the relative pronoun is NOT the subject of the verb in the adjective clause, the relative pronoun CAN be omitted. However, the relative pronoun is often omitted in spoken and informal written English. The relative pronoun is NOT generally omitted in formal English. The True Color of Writing 23adjective clause The map which shows the whole area is in the drawer. subject verb adjective clause Gregis the person (who) Sally i talking to. ‘abet In the first example, the relative pronoun which is the subject of the verb shows in the adjective clause which shows the whole area. Therefore, the relative pronoun which CANNOT be omitted. In the second example, the relative pronoun who is NOT the subject of the verb is talking in the adjective clause who Sally is talking to. The subject of is talking is Sally. Therefore, the relative pronoun who CAN be omitted. Underline the adjective clauses in the following sentences and place parentheses around the relative pronouns that CAN be omitted. Students who had cheated in the test were punished. The seeds which Linda planted have now germinated. ‘The manager sacked the accountant who he suspected of embezzlement. Aa encyclopedia is a book which contains information about many different subjects. The refrigerator that you recommended to us was expensive. ‘The man that you called this morning is my uncle. The reason why many people left the building was to save their lives. This was the place where Sam found the diamond ring. He doesn't remember the time when he bought his first bicycle. 10, This is a museum that is visited by many tourists. i Write ten sentences containing adjective clauses. Reduced Adjective Clauses A reduced adjective clause is a clause that is not in its complete form. The clock which is on the desk was a gift from my father. ‘complete form 24° The SentenceThe clock on the desk was a gift from my father. In the first sentence, the adjective clause which is on the desk is in a complete form. In the second sentence, the adjective clause on the desk is in a reduced form. If the adjective clause contains the verb be and if the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb in the adjective clause, the relative pronoun and the verb be are omitted. Students that are under the age of 18 must show some identification. ‘complete form Students under the age of 18 must show some identification. reduced form The nurses who are working at this hospital were promoted. The nurses working at this hospital were promoted. The house which was built in the last century was renovated two years ago. ape fo in the last century The house built in the last century was renovated two years ago. If the adjective clause does not contain the verb be and if the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb in the adjective clause, the relative pronoun is omitted and the verb is changed to the -ing form. We will discuss the subjects which include creative ideas, ete form We will discuss the subjects including creative ideas. ialueed foe The True Color of Writing 25The car alarm that went off last night woke the entire neighborhood. The car alarm going off last night woke the entire neighborhood. kite et Notice that in the above examples the relative pronouns who, that, and which are the subjects of the verbs in the adjective clauses. However, not every adjective clause can be reduced. If the relative pronoun who, that, or which is not the subject of the verb in the adjective clause, the adjective clause cannot be reduced. adjective clause ‘The painting that/which “ht last week riginal. Painting thatwhich you bows! week was origi adjective clause ‘The man that/who Sandra is engaged to is from Spain. ‘object subject verb adjective clause The Waitress shatwho I ip thanked me for it. e Waitress thaviwhe I gave a tip thanked me for In the above examples, -the adjective clauses CANNOT be reduced because the relative pronouns which, who, and that are NOT the subjects of the verbs in the adjective clauses. You, Sandra, and J are the subjects. However, the relative pronouns in these examples can be omitted. See Exercise 10 A. ‘The painting (that/which) you bought last week was original. ‘The man (that/who) Sandra is engaged to is from Spain, The waitress (that/who) I gave a tip thanked me for it. Reduice the adjective clauses in the following sentences. If the adjective clause does not reduce, write DNR. 1, The soldiers who were killed in the ambush were buried the next day. 26 The Sentence2. The manager dismissed the employees that arrived late. 3. The miners who were working in the copper mine were badly injured. 4. The hotel which was demolished last year could accommodate 3,000 guests. 5. Birds that migrate south in winter return in late spring. 6. The task which we were supposed to carry out involved working long hours. 7. Applicants who wish to enroll before the deadline will be considered as successful applicants. 9. The number of armed robberies which were committed during the past two months soared dramatically. Write ten sentences containing reduced adjective clauses. Prepositions before Adjective Clauses In certain adjective clauses whose relative pronoun whom or which is not the subject of the verb in the adjective clause, itis possible to use a preposition before whom or which. A. This is the city. I grew up in it. ‘The word it in the second sentence refers to the city in the first sentence. BT is the city which I grew up in. Notice that when the relative pronoun which connects the first clause this is the city to the second clause / grew up in, the word it in the second clause is omitted because both which and it refer to the city, so which replaces it, This is the city in which I grew up. a ‘The True Color of Writing 27The preposition in comes before the word it in Example A, and which replaces it in Example B, so in can come before which (Example C). A B. c. NB ‘The name of the school has changed. I graduated from it long ago. ‘The name of the school which I graduated from long ago has changed. The name of the school from which I graduated long ago has changed. Except for whom and which, NO other relative pronouns can be used after a preposition. Combine the two sentences using which or whom, and put the preposition before which or whom. 1 28 Thave wise parents. I leamed a lot from them. Thave wise parents whom I learned a lot from. Thave wise parents from whom I learned a lot. The key was under the rug. I opened the door with it. ‘Samantha is the new assistant manager. You should submit the complaint to her. ‘Nearly all the employees attended the meeting. They discussed the case at the meeting. My calculator is the most important gadget. I cannot do mathematics without it The rivals are extremely intelligent. You need to compete against them. ‘The Sentence9. A lake is a large body of water. Different life forms live in it. ‘Write ten sentences containing a preposition before the adjective clause. The True Color of Writing 29The Paragraph A paragraph is usually a group of sentences and it deals with a single subject. Every paragraph starts on a new line. The Topic Sentence The topic sentence is the sentence that contains the main idea of the paragraph. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. Identify the topic sentences in the paragraphs below. A My neighborhood is a suitable place to live. My family and I have lived in this neighborhood for five years and we feel very comfortable here. There are many stores near our house. For example, the supermarket and the drugstore are across from our house. The school isn't far either, so it takes my kids five minutes to walk there. Last summer, I went on vacation to Crete, an island in the Mediterranean Sea. I stayed in a hotel on the beach, so I spent most of my time lying on the fine sandy coasts of the island. I also went sightseeing and visited some historic places and buildings. In the evenings, however, I went downtown and visited the markets; I bought many souvenirs and paintings by local artists. Ihave accomplished many goals recently. The most significant goal that I have achieved was finding a decent job. I am employed in a reputable company and I am pleased with the post that I occupy. Furthermore, the pay is good, so I don't worry about covering my expenses. The working hours are perfect; I work seven hours per day; I start work at nine and finish it around four. Therefore, I never feel very tired. Word/Phrase Meaning ‘Across from our house On the opposite side of our house [Either - Also/too_used in negative statements Tt takes five minutes to walk there ‘A period of five minutes is needed to get to school 32. The ParagraphWord/Phrase Meaning Lie on the coast, To relax on the beach not standing or sitting Go sightseeing To visit interesting places usually on holiday Downtown | To or in the central part of a cit Souvenir ‘An object you buy/keep to remember a holiday/event Word/Phrase Meaning ‘Accomplish a goal To reach/achieve a goal Significant Important {Decent _ Acceptable or good Reputable Respected for providing a good service or for being honest Pleased Happy/satisfied Post ‘A job in a company Cover my expenses To have/provide enough money to pay the cost of things Write a paragraph about your neighborhood, Underline the topic sentence. Write a paragraph about a city that you visited recently. Write a paragraph about a problem that you could overcome. Supporting Sentences Supporting sentences are sentences that develop the topic sentence by giving details about the topic sentence. Basically, there are three types of supporting sentences: reasons, examples, and facts. Identify the topic sentences in the following paragraphs and label the supporting sentences ‘reason’, ‘example’, or ‘fact’. ‘The True Color of Writing 33‘A. Unemployment is a serious problem in my country. Many students graduate from university and end up being unemployed. For example, a university graduate may apply for a position in a company, but his application might be rejected. This is because the company has no vacancies. Others can't find a job because they lack the required skills or simply because they don't have formal education. B. Divorce is another problem that is common in my country. Over 30% of marriages end in divorce and the numbers tend to rise. This might stem from the financial difficulties that families suffer from. For instance, families on low incomes will feel insecure and nervous and the couple would have heated arguments over the slightest thing which, in tum, will weaken the family structures and lead to the breakup of the marriage Word/Phr Unemployment ‘Not having a job/income End up being unemployed To be unemployed without expecting or planning it Position ‘Ajob Be rejected ‘Not to be chosen for a job Vacancy ‘A job available for a new person to do Lack the required skills Not to have the skills that are needed Formal education Word/Phrase Education received in schooV/university, not gained through experience Meaning The marriage ends in divorce The marriage ends and the husband and wife separate Tend to rise To increase often ‘Stem from. To be the result of something Suffer from financial difficulties To have money problems On a low income Having small income/salary Have heated arguments To fight/disagree with someone angrily [The slightest thing Unimportant thing/issue/problem In tum Asa result Breakup The ending of a marriage/relationship ‘hte Write a paragraph about a social problem in your country. Develop the topic using supporting sentences. 34 The ParagraphWriting Multiple Paragraphs When you change focus, you necd to begin a new paragraph. Divide the following text into paragraphs. Mark the beginning of each new paragraph with the letters NP. ‘Amateur - ‘Not professional; not skilled Rather than Instead of Pro Professional, especially in a sport When it comes to defending When the subject being discussed is defendin; Thanks to Because of Self-confidence The feeling that you are sure of your | _ abilities [Poor —___ | Not good at doing something Throw the ball through the net ‘ore and win a point in basketball Brilliant ery skillful a Tm a big fan of the Rockets like and support this team very much Disappoint To fail to satisfy a person's hope/ wish and to make them unhapp: Victory = [Winning a game, war, ete. The True Color of Writing 35Write a composition about a close friend of yours. Begin a new paragraph every time you change focus. Avoid Including Irrelevant Statements ‘When writing a paragraph, you should NOT include information that is not connected with what you are discussing or explaining, Identify any irrelevant statements in the following paragraphs and omit them from the paragraphs. A. I'm not very satisfied with my house. The house is so shabby and causes problems all the time. The roof, for instance, has many cracks and leaks every time it rains. Moreover, the pipes are so rusty that we have to leave the faucet running for five minutes until the water clears. My father is a skillful plumber. The worst thing about my house is that i so dingy; I feel depressed whenever I come home, B. Last night, I had a really weird dream. I dreamt that I went to the zoo and I was looking at different kinds of animals. I approached the lion cage and I saw three huge lions in the cage. Most lions today are bred in captivity. One of the lions moved toward the door of the cage; it unlocked the door and came out of the cage. I turned and ran for my life and it chased me. As I was running, I turned around and saw a child running after me instead! Word/Phrase Meaning So shabby ‘Very old and used for a long time Crack A line on the surface of something where __| ithas broken The roof leaks The roof lets water to escape from a hole orcrack in it Rusty Covered with rust ( reddish-brown substance forming on metals when wet) Leave the faucet running To let water flow from the faucet Plumber ‘A person who repairs pipes, toilets, etc. Dingy Dark and in bad condition Depressed. [ Very unhappy and without hope 36 The ParagraphWord/Phrase Meaning Weird _ ‘Very strange/unusual Cage - ‘A container in which animals/birds are kept [Approach __ [To come near to someone or something Lions are bred in captivity | Lions are kept in cages Tran to save my life To run after someone to catch them To change your position and face the other way Write a paragraph about your house. Exchange your paragraph with a partner. Has your partner written any information that doesn't relate to the main idea? ‘The True Color of Writing 37