Making better use of sentence structure
Once you have learnt
to identify the various elements in a sentence, it is possible to write more
varied and interesting prose. For example, you might want to introduce shorter sentences
by replacing selected conjunctions with full stops. Other effects can be
created by changing the order of main and subordinate clauses. For example, you
can change an active sentence into a passive one, as in
Active: Isabel (subject) threw (verb) the
armchair (object) but it (subject) missed (verb) her timid
husband (object) ...
Passive: The armchair (subject) was thrown (verb)by Isabel (object)
but her timid
husband (subject) was missed (verb) by it (object) ...
You should also find
it easier to edit other people’s text, in order to make it more readable and
appropriate to its target readership. Section 1.5 of the textbook provides
further guidance on improving the style of your written English. You can also
learn a great deal by reading widely, including high quality newspaper and
magazine journalism, non-fiction writing.
Exercise: sentence construction
Prepare examples of
compound and complex sentences containing two, three, four and five clauses. In
each case identify the conjunctions plus (in the complex sentences) the main
and subordinate clauses. Rewrite each sentence as a series of simple sentences,
punctuated with full stops.