A Workbook to Communicative Grammar of English (24 page)
Read A Workbook to Communicative Grammar of English Online
Authors: Dr. Edward Woods,Rudy Coppieters
Task two ***
Rephrase the completed versions of the above sentences without changing their meaning in a significant way. In some cases there may be more than one acceptable alternative.
Example: | David is even too poor to afford three decent meals a day |
or: | David is very poor so (that) he can’t even afford three decent meals a day |
Addition, exception and restriction
Addition can be expressed by
•
prepositions
:
in addition to, as well as, besides
•
words typically used in coordinate constructions
:
and, not only … but (also)
•
adverbials
:
in addition
(front-position),
also
(mid-position),
as well
and
too
(end-position)
•
the adverbs
so
and
neither/nor
, which have a positive and a negative meaning respectively. All three adverbs cause subject-operator inversion.
Task one ***
Rewrite the following (pairs of) sentences, replacing the underlined part by the word or phrase in brackets. Pay attention to both structure and word order.
Example: | This food is |
⇒ | Besides |
1.
In addition to
being far too long, the play was badly acted. (also)
2.
At the party, Bianca
not only
sang
but also
danced. (too)
3.
Besides
offering a BA in political science the department also serves the community in various ways. (in addition)
4.
Jane spoke English and Russian, and fluent Arabic
as well
. (besides)
5.
Slaves
not only
built the South,
but also
created the wealth of the North. (in addition to)
6.
Ms Moore was a frequent guest on NBC’s
Weekend Today
.
In addition
, she has done more than 200 television interviews. (as well as)
7.
Arkansas has hundreds of hotels and motels, and more than 170 bed and breakfast inns,
too
. (in addition to)
8.
Getting a good guide in that area is an absolute necessity. It is
also
very affordable. (as well as)
9.
Besides
the Amazon rain forest, another Brazilian jewel faces peril. (too)
10.
We have a tradition of sparkling wine and have just begun brewing beer
as well
. (not only … but also).
11.
Prisoners of war received the same rations and supplies.
In addition
, they received comparable medical care. (as well)
12.
Healthy aging depends on social
as well as
physical activity. (not only … but also)
Task two **
Complete the following dialogue, using
so
or
neither/nor
in combination with the subject mentioned in brackets.
Examples: | A1: Uncle Joe is a social worker | |
B1: (Aunt Betty) | ⇒ | So is Aunt Betty |
A2: Uncle Joe is not a social worker | ||
B2: (Aunt Betty) | ⇒ | Neither/Nor is Aunt Betty |
Ron: | My train was delayed again this morning. |
Tess: | (mine) ________________________. |
Ron: | I didn’t get to work on time. |
Tess: | (I) ________________________. |
Ron: | I’ve decided to look for a job closer to home. |
Tess: | (lots of other people) ________________________. |
Ron: | You may not believe it, Tess, but I can’t drive a car. |
Tess: | (I) ________________________. Actually, I would have preferred to live in an earlier age, when there were no cars at all. |
Ron: | (I) _______________________. |
Tess: | People like my grandparents managed quite well without a car. |
Ron: | (most of their generation) ________________________. The trouble these days is so many people behind the wheel don’t behave like humans. |
Tess: | (some people sitting behind desks) ________________________. |
Ron: | Still, motorists shouldn’t be blamed for all the problems on our roads. |
Tess: | (lorry drivers) ________________________. They are all too often made scapegoats. |
Ron: | (cyclists and pedestrians … and even animals crossing roads.) ___________________________. |
Tess: | Well, I think we should all try to be more understanding towards each other. |
Ron: | (I) ________________________. |
Exception is the opposite of addition and can be expressed by
•
prepositions
:
except (for), apart from, bar, but
•
the conjunction
except (that)
•
adverbs of exception
:
otherwise, else; even
(= negative adverb of exception)
Task **
Complete the following sentences, using each of the connecting words or phrases below at least once:
apart from | bar | but | else | even |
except | except for | except that | otherwise |
1.
I have a bit of a headache, but ____________________ I’m fine.
2.
Our turnover is expected to increase considerably this year ____________________ any unforeseen events.
3.
The weather was mild last winter ____________________ one cold spell in January.
4.
Mumbai proves to be India’s capital in everything ____________________ name.
5.
____________________ English, what language will be most important in the global market place?
6.
There were no further details ____________________ the 15-year-old was released on bail.
7.
We spent the next few days playing games and partying and not much ________________.
8.
Do not call the fire department ____________________ in case of an emergency.
9.
I didn’t keep any of my books, not ____________________ my dictionaries.
10.
____________________ diaries or personal journals, most writing is intended for one or more readers.
11.
Some of the paint has gone but ____________________ the woodwork is in good condition.
12.
___________________ vets, who ___________________ can treat an animal?
Restriction can be expressed by words like
only, just, merely
and
simply
, which combine negative meaning with the idea of exception. The word
only
can often be paraphrased as
nothing but, no one except, no more than
, etc.
Adverbs of addition, exception and restriction often focus their meaning on a particular part of the sentence. A sentence can be ambiguous, depending on the element that is focused, but contrastive intonation can help to clarify the meaning.
Task ***
Complete the following sentences in two different ways to bring out the ambiguity of the introductory clause. Underline the parts which are ‘focused’ in the two versions of each sentence.
Example: | The tourist merely wanted to touch the statuettes |
⇒ | (1) |
⇒ | (2) |
or: | (2) |
1.
The reporters only interviewed the Prime Minister,……….
2.
Sarah isn’t just a keen tennis player,……….
3.
The politician merely suggested changing priorities,……….
4.
The police didn’t even try to deal with the worst types of crime,……….
5.
We also had to underline the adjectives,……….
6.
Thelma isn’t merely against modern music,………..
7.
The young man not only envied his cousin,……….
8.
Chris couldn’t even understand simple questions,……….
9.
We didn’t just go to Arizona to meet Native Americans,……….
10.
Tom was also fined for not wearing his safety belt,……….
Information, reality and belief
Sections 240–242; 536–541; 609–612; 681–683
Questions are sentences by which someone asks the hearer to give information. The most natural response to a question is an answer, giving the information needed. The commonest types of questions are:
• | – limited to only one of two answers (‘ |
– subject-operator inversion and usually rising intonation | |
• | – unlimited number of answers |
– initial | |
• | – limited to one of two or more alternatives |
– similar in form to |
Wh
-questions are introduced by
– interrogative determiners/pronouns (personal only):
who(m)
and
whose
– interrogative determiners/pronouns (personal and non-personal):
what
(indefinite reference) and
which
(definite reference)
– interrogative adverbs:
where, when, why, how
.
Task one *
Turn the following statements into corresponding
yes-no
questions.
1.
They are going to build a new bridge across the river.
2.
Motorists can park in the town square on Sundays.
3.
Arthur has lived in South Africa all his life.
4.
Two gunmen were killed by the security forces yesterday.
5.
Inflation will start rising again in the next few months.
6.
Charlotte caught pneumonia last winter.
7.
Skin-diving is Uncle Toby’s favourite pastime.
8.
Patients had been waiting for hours before seeing a doctor.
9.
These measures should have been taken years ago.
10.
The postman always rings twice.
11.
Susan was disappointed after the job interview.
12.
The principal has a fourteen-year-old daughter.
Task two **
Complete the following questions, adding the most appropriate
wh
-word.
1.
_______ was the first man to walk on the moon?
2.
_______ form of English do you like best: British, American or Australian?
3.
_______ criminals should serve life sentences?
4.
_______ did the CIA suspect of terrorism?
5.
_______ is your cousin, a fashion model?
6.
_______ of you are going to take early retirement?
7.
_______ caused the hurricane to change course all of a sudden?
8.
_______ motorbike did you borrow, your dad’s?
9.
_______ were you talking to in that dark corner of the library?
10.
_______ leg hurts most, Mr Sillitoe?
11.
_______ on earth are people prepared to risk their lives climbing Mount Everest?
12.
_______ can you possibly expect me to forgive you?
13.
_______ is the most wanted man in the world hiding?
14.
_______ will humans visit the planet Mars?
15.
_______ often have you been abroad?
