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4.2: Master some sentence basics

  • Page ID
    15682
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    The goal of writing instruction should be to encourage students to develop hybrid modes of communication that can combine the rhetorical relevant aspects of different contexts into students' own authentic voices. To that end, it is helpful to have a strong grasp on some basic structures. 

    Master the simple sentence

    The basic unit of english Subject + Verb or Subject + Verb + Object. Every sentence, no matter how complex, and no matter what form of english it uses, contains within it a simple sentence. Here are some simple sentences

    • Phones are tools.
    • I lost my phone.
    • I can't live without my phone.

    Add to simple sentences with introductory elements

    • Unfortunately, I lost my phone.
    • Packed with features, phones are tools.
    • Truth be told, I can't live without my phone.
    • Play with the order

    • I lost my phone, unfortunately.
    • Phones are tools packed with features.
    • I can't live without my phone, truth be told.

    Build compound sentences with FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)*

    *these commas are useful, but the points are still clear without them

    • Unfortunately, I lost my phone, but I have AppleCare, so I can get a new phone.
    • Phones are tools packed with features, yet they still have the original function of talking to people.
    • I can't live without my phone, and I've never had to.

    Build compound sentences with other conjunctions

    • Because I have AppleCare, I got a new phone when I lost my old one.
    • OR, I got a new phone when I lost my old one because I have AppleCare.
    • While phones are tools packed with features, they still have the original function of talking to people.
    • OR, Phones have the original function of talking to people even through they are tools packed with features.

     


    4.2: Master some sentence basics is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.