1、Chapter 3 Shaping Effective Sentences第1页，共32页。Qualities of Effective SentencesvUnity（统一）vCoherence（连贯）vConciseness(简洁)vVariety第2页，共32页。Unity（统一）vUnity is one of the fundamental qualities of effective writing.Unity in sentences helps to make the idea clear.A unified sentence expresses a single comple
2、te thought.It doesnt contain ideas that are not closely related,nor does it express a thought that is not complete by itself.第3页，共32页。Examples Which is better?vWe paid a porter two dollars for taking our luggage to our rooms,and the hotel lobby was very elegant.vWe paid a porter two dollars for taki
3、ng our luggage to our rooms,and we found that the hotel lobby was very elegant.第4页，共32页。vWhich is better?vBorn in a small town in South China in the early 50s,he grew up to be a famous musician.vHe was born in a small town in South China in the early 50s.In his childhood he liked to sing songs.Later
4、 he entered a conservatory.In the 70s,he became a famous musician.第5页，共32页。Coherence vCoherence means that all parts in a sentence are connected in a smooth and logical order.In other words,the meaning of most of sentences depends on word order;therefore the position of different parts in a sentence
5、 is very important to clear communication.第6页，共32页。Ways to achieve sentence coherencev1.Use parallel structures,which include:vHer office is small,chilly and dirty(P.Adj.)vI enjoy football and hockey.(PN.)vOur dog ran across the lawn and under the hedge.(P.Phrase.)vWe requested that he sing our favo
6、rite songs and that he allow us record them.(P.Clause)第7页，共32页。vI want to learn English and he wants to learn French.(P sentence)Correct the following:A man is judged not only by what he says but also by his deeds.We thought she was charming,intelligent and a very capable young woman.Many people cho
7、ose air transportation because it is fast,offers convenience,and it is not very expensive.第8页，共32页。v2.Avoid shifts between tenses She invited me for lunch,but I didnt accept it because I have to go home at noon.3.Avoid shifts between voices The little boy finally had to go to his uncles,but it was n
8、ot liked by him.4.Avoid shifts between persons One reason that I like living in the city is that you can easily get what you want in big department stores.第9页，共32页。v5.Avoid shifts among the indicative,imperative and subjunctive moods.It is therefore an important part of the park rangers duty to watc
9、h the tourists and above all dont let anyone try to feed the tigers.If I were president of the university and he was my second in command,things would be very different.第10页，共32页。Conciseness(简洁)vA sentence should contain no unnecessary words.If the idea is fully expressed,the fewer words are used,th
10、e better.Compare the following:vWordy（啰嗦）There have been good harvests in agriculture.There have been good harvests.第11页，共32页。vAnother important aspect is good health.It is one of our great blessings.It may be achieved through proper diet and exercise.Rest is also desirable.vThe search of the forest
11、 that they conducted was entirely complete.vIt makes me painful to think that she has to work 12 hours a day and seven days a week.第12页，共32页。Ways to Achieve ConcisenessvAvoid nouns made from verbsvRewrite the passive voice as active vCut or shorten words or phrasesvCombine sentences第13页，共32页。v1.Avoi
12、d nouns made from verbsMake(a)+nounmake an investigation ofmake a careful study ofmake a decision to make a proposal thatmake efforts tomake an analysis ofmake an improvement in第14页，共32页。have(a)+nounhave a dislike to do have trust inhave an influence onhave respect forhave adequate knowledge ofOther
13、 similar structuresexcise control overplace stress ongive guidance to第15页，共32页。v2.Rewrite passive voice as active because the passive often denotes a state rather than an actionThe 1990 law is seen by most businesses as fair,but the cost pf applying have sometimes been exaggerated.Most businesses se
14、e 1990 law as fair,but some opponents have exaggerated the costs of applying.第16页，共32页。v3.Cut or shorten empty words or phrases.1)substitute at all times-alwaysAt the present time nowFor the purpose of-forIn order to-toFor the reason that becauseDue to the fact that-becauseBecause of the fact that b
15、ecauseIn the event that-if第17页，共32页。by means of byIn the final analysis-finally as far as I am concerned-I think2)CuttingCooperate togetherRepeat againFew in numberLarge in sizeSquare in shapeNew innovation第18页，共32页。Mutual cooperationPositive guidanceSerious natural disasterUnfortunate tragedyDisapp
16、ear from viewWhisper softy第19页，共32页。v 4.Combine sentences:often the information in two or more sentences can be combined into one tight sentence.Jack applied for a job.He went for an interview.He was hired.Jack applied for a job,went for an interview and was hired.第20页，共32页。Combine sentences by coor
17、dinatingvThe earliest electronic computers were not compact.They were considered not reliable at that time.The earliest electronic computers were neither compact nor reliable at that time.第21页，共32页。Combine sentences by subordinatingv He needed comfort from his mental anguish.He would walk in the woo
18、ds to find peace.v Whenever he needed comfort from his mental anguish,he would walk in the woods to find peace第22页，共32页。I enjoy Christmas very much.I like shopping.I like decorating the tree.I like giving presents.I enjoy eating on Christmas day.I enjoy eating turkey.I like a lot of dressing.I like
19、pumpkin pie.I also like being with the family.I like seeing my grandmother.I like seeing my nieces.I enjoy Christmas very much.I like shopping and decorating the tree.I also enjoy giving presents.On Christmas day I love eating all the turkey,dressing and pumpkin pie.Finally,I look forward to being w
20、ith the family and seeing my grandmother and nieces in particular.第23页，共32页。Variety v In a paragraph or an essay,each sentence stands in relation to those before or after it.To make sentences work together effectively,we need to vary the sentence length,structure or word order to reflect the importa
21、nce and complexity of ideas.第24页，共32页。Ways to achieve sentence variety vVary the length of the sentencevVary the beginningvVary the order of subject,verb or objectvOccasionally use command,question or exclamation第25页，共32页。vVary the length of the sentence Mr.Smith woke up at 7:00.His alarm clock rang
22、.He dressed quickly.He had to drive to the airport to meet an important client at 8.After Mr.Smith woke up at 7:00 by his alarm clock,he dressed quickly because he had to drive to the airport to meet an important client at 8.第26页，共32页。vVary the beginning1.Begin sentence with adverbsGently,he mixed t
23、he chemicals together.Relentlessly,the defendants lawyer cross-questioned the witness for a week.Quickly,he finished answering the last question on the test.第27页，共32页。v2.Begin sentence with appositives A city of ancient origins,Xi an,used to be the capital of eleven dynasties.v3.Begin sentence with
24、phrases In spite of her hard work,he failed the course.Troubled by a dream,he woke up with a start.To get a good seat,we went to the game early.Learning English is not easy.Exhausted from his testimony,the witness didnt cooperate.第28页，共32页。v4.Vary the order of subject,verb or object The general won
25、the battle and planned the next days campaign.The general,winning the battle,planned the next days campaign.Her talent for music is an acquired skill that attracts many of her classmates.第29页，共32页。ExercisesvI.Rewrite each of the sentences to clearly indicate a relationship between ideas,adding words
26、 when necessary.v1.He stopped worrying,and there were no rumors.v2.Although the visiting professor had different and refreshing views,I played football on September 12.v3.There are many types of bores at social gatherings,but personally I prefer a quiet evening at home.第30页，共32页。v4.John was advised
27、to hire a tutor in Spanish immediately,but the long hours of work at a service station kept his grades low.v5.At last I returned the book that I had used for the report which I made Tuesday to the library.vII.Convert each of the following series of short simple sentences to one long sentence in whic
28、h ideas are carefully related.v1.Her speech had an interesting thesis.Salesperson should solve the existing problems of their customers.They should also point out new problems in order to solve them.v2.Ellen Dolan did not buy a second car.She bought a Piper.It is a cub plane.It flies at almost a hun
29、dred miles an hour.第31页，共32页。vIII.Correct all awkward shifts in tense,voice,mood,number,and person in the following sentences.v1.The cat jumps on my lap when I sat down.v2.Mary added meat to the frozen pizza,and then it was baked ten minutes by him.v3.My little nephew loves to break things.Last year he breaks five toys in several minutes and then went on to smash his familys new china plates.v4.A vacation is enjoyed by all because it refreshes the mind and the body.v5.Every bystander was suspect,so they were taken away for questioning.第32页，共32页。
