A Workbook to Communicative Grammar of English (19 page)
Read A Workbook to Communicative Grammar of English Online
Authors: Dr. Edward Woods,Rudy Coppieters
7.
In a political sense the uninsured hardly formed a group at all.
8.
The coach said we did well for such a young team.
9.
On paper, this set of rules looks impressive.
10.
Six out of ten is not too bad for a beginner.
11.
Ms Carpenter is excellent as a teacher and trainer.
12.
Objectively, this war is terrifying. Subjectively, it remains strangely uninvolving.
Task two **
Rephrase each of the above sentences in at least one alternative way.
Sentence adverbials are not integrated in the structure of the sentence but are peripheral to it. They also have a wide variety of possible structures, ranging from simple adverb to finite subclause. Most sentence adverbials occur in front-position and are separated from what follows by a tone unit boundary.
Some sentence adverbials convey speakers’ comments on what they are saying:
–
Frankly
/
If I may be frank
, this isn’t good enough.
Other sentence adverbials have a connective role:
– The team didn’t like the food.
However
, they have not complained so far.
Task one *
Add a sentence adverbial corresponding in meaning to the expression in brackets.
1.
Tracy forgot to lock the front door.
(this was very odd)
2.
What Sam told us is a pack of lies.
(this is clear)
3.
I haven’t got the faintest idea why she rebuffed you.
(I want to be frank about it)
4.
Harry will have second thoughts about this.
(I hope he will)
5.
I would say only a trained diver could reach the wreck.
(I want to speak as an expert)
6.
The evidence we’ve got is not convincing.
(I have to admit this)
7.
Some spectators turned up after the game had started.
(this was unfortunate)
8.
I’ve never intended to hurt Maggy’s feelings.
(I want to be honest with you)
9.
Dennis jilted his girlfriend for a much older woman.
(this really surprised us)
10.
Lady Tattle was monopolizing the conversation again.
(this was characteristic)
11.
Many more people will be killed in the operations.
(this cannot be doubted)
12.
The white powder looks quite harmless.
(on the surface of it)
Task two **
Connect the following pairs of sentences by adding one of the adverbials below to the second sentence of each pair:
after all | alternatively | as a result | however | in other words |
instead | moreover | on the contrary | otherwise | similarly |
1.
The Prime Minister is suffering from a hernia. He will not be able to attend the European summit.
2.
The peace process is in deep trouble. The various parties involved are prepared to continue their efforts.
3.
Nursery education has been transferred to community colleges. Teacher training has been shifted to colleges and universities.
4.
We could travel by train. We could travel by plane.
5.
I did not feel put off by this unexpected confrontation. I was already looking forward to the next challenge.
6.
We are not going to buy a sunbed as it is too expensive. Someone told me UV-radiation can cause skin cancer.
7.
I think we should show some more understanding for Susan’s behaviour. She’s been through a lot lately.
8.
Is there a cheaper solution? Can you make a cheaper device?
9.
Don’t forget to tell the boss. You will get into a lot of trouble.
10.
The suspect did not answer any of my questions. He kept staring into the distance.
Clause types
8.1. Cause, result, purpose and reason
Sections 198–206; 323; 365; 613–615
The clauses in this section answer the question “why?”
•
Cause
: This is indicated by an adverbial
because
-clause or by a prepositional phrase beginning
because of, on account of, from, out of
. Also used are
for
with nouns of feeling and
through
. We also use verbs such as
lead to
and
result in
.
•
Result
:
Result
is the opposite of
cause
. This is often expressed by a clause beginning with
so that
, or just
so
.
•
Purpose
: This is an intended result. It can be introduced by an adverbial of purpose, usually a
to-infinitive
clause. We can also use
so that, in order to
or
in case
(for a negative purpose).
•
Reason & consequence
: This can be expressed in a similar way to
cause
, using
because, because of, on account of. As
and
since
are also used. Other ways of expressing this are with conjunctions such as
seeing that
and
now that
or the use of
for
-phrases. We can also use the linking adverb
consequently
.
Also important for expressing
cause
or
reason
are linking adverbials such as
therefore, hence, accordingly, so
and
in that case
.
Task one **
In the following examples, underline the phrase or clause in each sentence which expresses
cause/reason
or
result/consequence
. Indicate the meaning of each of these underlined elements as either
cause, reason, result
or
consequence
1.
The trains were badly affected by strikes again last week so I had to go to work by car.
2.
Because I set off early, I thought the roads would be clear.
3.
However, on account of the strike, everyone had taken the same action as I had.
4.
By as early as seven o’clock, the roads were so crowded that there were long queues of traffic.
5.
There had been several accidents with the result that nothing was moving.
6.
Since I had been stuck for so long, I was over an hour late getting to work.
7.
I couldn’t face the same problems going home, so I decided to stay in a hotel that night.
8.
Because so many people had the same idea, all the hotels were fully booked.
9.
As I still didn’t want to drive home in all the traffic, I made myself as comfortable as possible and slept in the office.
10.
I forgot to put a notice on my office door, so I was woken at five o’clock in the morning when the cleaners came in.
Task two ***
Join the pairs of sentences using one of the conjunctions or constructions below according to the function by each item. In some cases, it will be necessary to rewrite the sentences. e.g.: He wasn’t able to afford such an expensive holiday. He decided not to go with his friends. [cause]
Not being able to afford such an expensive holiday, he decided not to go with his friends
.
and consequently
;
as
;
because
;
because of
;
on account of
;
since
;
so
;
so that
;
to-infinitive clause
;
with the result that
1.
The weather was very stormy. People were advised not to travel. [result]
2.
A full survey of the house wasn’t done. Many faults were discovered later. [result]
3.
The Post Office lost over £2m last year. Some postal deliveries must be curtailed. [reason]
4.
A virus was sent through the e-mail. Whole programs were lost on the computer. [result]
5.
Public services need more investment. Taxes will have to be raised. [reason]
6.
There was a sudden death in the family. His trip to Hungary was cancelled. [reason]
7.
He led a busy but sedentary life. Gabor was very overweight. [cause]
8.
His doctor told him to do more exercise. He would lose weight. [purpose]
9.
The ski resorts lost a lot of money last year. There was very little snow. [cause]
10.
The meeting was postponed. The trains were running late. [reason]
Task three ***
Using the conjunctions and phrases listed, make as many sentences as you can by linking the clauses below. Some examples have been done for you.
Examples:
The problem is often psychological so that telling people to diet or take exercise is not the easy answer
.
Our parents and grandparents did more manual work in the home because there weren’t the labour-saving devices
.
Cause
:
because, because of, on account of, bound to
and
result in
.
Result
:
so that, so
.
Purpose
:
to
-infinitive clause,
so that, in order to, in case
.
Reason & consequence
:
because, because of, on account of, as, since, seeing that, now that, a participle clause, for
-phrase,
consequently
.
there is so much information about healthy life-styles
people should dedicate time to sit down and eat properly
it is surprising that British people are becoming dangerously overweight
we must look at the real reasons why we eat too much
you can now buy many healthy foods
diets often leave us feeling hungry and miserable
the problem is also psychological
it gets harder to shed weight each time we diet
telling people to diet and take exercise is not the easy answer
people try different diets
many people try diets but then fall back
some experts say there is an epidemic of obesity
our work patterns often give us little time
we take in more calories than we burn off
people get anxious about work
there weren’t the labour-saving devices
they eat to cheer themselves up
our parents and grandparents did more manual work in the home
we also need to do more exercise
our eating habits need to change
(adapted from Chris McLaughlin: Losing Weight & Keeping it off, in
World Cancer Research Fund Newsletter
, issue 45, Winter 2001)
Task four **
Complete the following text with conjunctions or phrases indicating
cause, result, purpose, reason & consequence
. The first one has been done for you: ………(1)………….. few people will admit to taking astrology seriously…
As few people will admit to taking astrology seriously
, it is surprising how many people read their horoscopes each week. This has ………(2)………….. even some serious newspapers and journals publishing horoscopes. It is ………. popular
………(3)………….. there has been a huge increase in the number of “professional” astrologers. This is strange ………(4)………….. during the 18
th
& 19
th
centuries astrology became marginalised. People were becoming more independent and educated ………(5)………….. irrational beliefs such as our fate being influenced by the position of the stars on the day we were born seemed absurd. ………(6)………….. this, by the beginning of the 20
th
century, astrologers had almost disappeared from public view. What has brought about the change? In August1930, ………(7)………….. boost circulation, the Sunday Express invited an astrologer to draw up a birth chart for the newly born Princess Margaret. ………(8)………….. the public was entertained by this press stunt, other newspapers copied the idea. Then, during the second World War, many people turned not only to religion but to the occult ………(9)………….. find comfort in difficult times. While many of the stranger activities disappeared when the war was over, horoscopes maintained their hold on the public. Now as life becomes more complicated, people want to know more about their possible fate. ………(10)………….. we even have horoscopes on the internet. Many people laugh at themselves ………(11)………….. being so foolish. Meanwhile the sales of horoscope year-books continue to rise.
(adapted from Michael Watts: Who says our fate is in the stars, in
Saga Magazine
, January 2002)
Task five **
Read through your own completed text for Task Four and label the conjunctions or constructions you have used, e.g.
reason, result, cause
, etc.
The clauses in this section relate to a situation where two circumstances are in contrast. This means that one is surprising or unexpected in view of the other.
Task one **
Connect the pairs of clauses using the conjunction or adverbial phrases indicated. In some cases, it will be necessary to rewrite one of the clauses.
1.
It was raining heavily last Sunday. We still went out for a walk after lunch. (although)
2.
He lost all his money. He maintained an air of calm reassurance. (in spite of)
