Collins Cobuild English Grammar (177 page)

The report
given below
appeared in the Daily Mail on 8 August 1985.

such

10.46
   
Such
is sometimes used as a predeterminer to refer to a kind of thing that is specified immediately afterwards in a phrase or clause beginning with
as
.

You might think that in
such
a book
as this
, there is no need to deal with these matters.

Such
is also sometimes used to qualify a noun, followed by a specifying phrase or clause beginning with
as
.

…a general rise in prices
such as occurred in the late 1960s
.
Try putting the items under headings
such as I’ve suggested
.

other ways

10.47
   There are also other ways of referring forward to things that also involve focusing on the thing referred to. These involve
split sentences
, which are explained in paragraphs
9.25
to
9.30
and sentences beginning with
there
, which are explained in paragraphs
9.46
to
9.55
.

Showing connections between sentences

10.48
   The following section explains the functions of different groups of linking expressions, or
sentence connectors
. Sentence connectors are used to show what sort of connection there is between one sentence and another.

indicating an addition

10.49
   In the course of speaking or writing, you can introduce a related comment or an extra reinforcing piece of information using one of the following adverbials:

also

as well

at the same time

besides

furthermore

moreover

on top of that

too

I cannot apologize for his comments.
Besides
, I agree with them.
Moreover
, new reserves continue to be discovered.
His first book was published in 1932, and it was followed by a series of novels. He
also
wrote a book on British pubs.
The demands of work can cause gaps in regular attendance.
On top of that
, many students are offered no extra lessons during the vacations.

Note that
too
is not usually placed at the beginning of a sentence.

He was hard-working, and honest,
too
.

indicating a similar point

10.50
   You can show that you are adding a fact that illustrates the same point as the one you have just made, or a suggestion that has the same basis, by using one of the following adverbials:

again

by the same token

equally

in the same way

likewise

similarly

Every baby’s face is different from every other’s.
In the same way
, every baby’s pattern of development is different.
Being a good player doesn’t guarantee you will be a good manager, but,
by the same token
, neither does having all the coaching badges.
Never feed your rabbit raw potatoes that have gone green–they contain a poison.
Similarly
, never feed it rhubarb leaves.

contrasts and alternatives

10.51
   When you want to add a sentence that contrasts with the previous one or gives another point of view, you can use one of the following adverbials:

all the same

alternatively

by contrast

conversely

even so

however

instead

nevertheless

nonetheless

on the contrary

on the other hand

rather

still

then again

though

yet

He had forgotten that there was a rainy season in the winter months. It was,
however
, a fine, soft rain and the air was warm.
Her aim is to punish the criminal.
Nevertheless
, she is not convinced that imprisonment is always the answer.
Her children are hard work. She never loses her temper with them
though
.

If you are mentioning an alternative, you can use
instead
,
alternatively
, or
conversely
.

People who normally consulted her began to ask other people’s advice
instead
.
The company is now considering an appeal.
Alternatively
, they may submit a new application.

causes

10.52
   When you want to say that the fact you are mentioning exists because of the fact or facts previously given, you link your statements using one of the following adverbs:

accordingly

as a result

consequently

hence

so

thereby

therefore

thus

Oxford and Cambridge have a large income of their own.
So
they are not in quite the same position as other universities.
It isn’t giving any detailed information.
Therefore
it isn’t necessary.
We want a diverse press and we haven’t got it. I think
as a result
a lot of options are closed to us.

showing sequence in time

10.53
   Some time adverbials are used to indicate that something takes place after or before an event that you have already mentioned or at the same time as that event:

afterwards

at the same time

beforehand

earlier

ever since

finally

first

in the meantime

last

later

meanwhile

next

presently

previously

simultaneously

since

soon

soon after

subsequently

suddenly

then

throughout

Go and see Terry Brown about it. Come back to me
afterwards
.
Published in 1983, the book has
since
gone through six reprints.
Never set out on a journey without telling someone
beforehand
.
We look forward to the Commission studying this agreement.
In the meantime
we are pressing ahead with our plans.

putting points in order

10.54
   In formal writing and speech, people often want to say what stage they have reached in writing or speaking. They do this using the following sentence connectors:

first

firstly

second

secondly

third

thirdly

finally

in conclusion

lastly

then

to sum up

What are the advantages of geothermal energy?
Firstly
, there’s no fuel required, the energy already exists.
Secondly
, there’s plenty of it.
Finally
, I want to say something about the heat pump.

conjunctions

10.55
   When people are speaking or writing informally, they often add an extra piece of information using one of the conjunctions
and
,
but
,
yet
,
or
, and
nor
to begin a new sentence.

He’s a very good teacher.
And
he’s good-looking.
I think it’s motor cycling.
But
I’m not sure.
It’s not improving their character.
Nor
their home life.

sentence connectors after
and
or
but

10.56
   Sentence connectors are often put after the conjunctions
and
or
but
at the beginning of a clause or sentence.

That will take a long time
and besides
you’d get it wrong.
They were familiar
and therefore
all right.
Her accent is not perfect.
But still
, it’s a marvellous performance.

If you are linking two negative sentences or clauses, you can put
either
at the end of the second one.

I can’t use it, but I can’t bear not to use it
either
.

Linking parts of a conversation together

10.57
   Sometimes people want to avoid abruptness when changing the topic of conversation, or when starting to talk about a different aspect of it. They do this by using a particular group of sentence connectors.