Writing 基礎英文寫作進四技應二甲周怡君 September 2011. Unit 1 Understanding Sentence Basics

Writing基礎英文寫作

進四技應二甲

周怡君 September 2011

Unit 1 Understanding Sentence Basics

What Is a Sentence?

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. The words in a sentence are in a special order.

Letter word sentence

paragraph essay

*

Begin with capital letter Capital letter / lowercase letter

Proper nounCommon nounDay of weekMonthsLanguagesCountries

Ending with periodThe most common or usual way to end a sentence is with a period.

Question mark• prepositions of place• exclamation points

Prepositions of place----At, On and In

Three important prepositions are at, on,

and in. These prepositions have many meanings, but one important function is to indicate location.

at + specific locationon+ street names in + town or city names, state names, larger region names, countries names

Exclamation points You use an exclamation point (!) to show emphasis or emotion about something.

The Parts of a Sentence

Sentence Development1. Simple sentence S+V+O+(other information) Maria plays the piano well. S+V+(other information) Maria plays well. v.t.( transitive Verb)+ Ov.i.( intransitive Verb)

Grammar and sentence structure

Subjects, Verbs, and objectsBeThere is/ there areSubjects, Verbs, and objectsBeThere is/ there are+(other information)

Sentences in paragraphs

Sentences and paragraphsA group of words that tell about one idea is called a sentence. A group of sentences that tell about one topic or one idea is called a paragraph.

The title of a paragraph A title gives you information about what is in a book, a song, a movie, or a paragraph.• A good title is usually very shout.• A good title is usually not a complete sentence.• A good title catches the reader’s interest.• A good title also follows special capitalization rules.• A good title does not have a period at the end.

Simple Sentences

簡單句有五種基本句型︰ (1)S + V[ I ] ( 主詞 + 不及物動詞 )

(2)S + V[ I ] + SC ( 主詞 + 不及物動詞 + 主詞補語 )

(3) S + V[T ] + O ( 主詞 + 及物動詞 + 受詞 )

(4)S + V[T ] + IO + DO( 主詞 + 及物動詞 + 間接受詞 + 直接受詞 )

(5)S + V[T ] + O + C ( 主詞 + 及物動詞 + 受詞 + 受詞補語 )

(1) S + V[ I ]

Time flies. S VHe usually gets up early in the morning.S V The boy in the back of the classroom drew on S Vhis desk.*** sit down, stand up, stay up, break down, dress up, calm down….. ***

(2) S+ V[I] + SC

Miss Liu is my English teacher. S V SCThe students seem happy in their English class. S V SCTo see is to believe. S V SC

*** look, sound, smell, taste, feel,+adj *** look, sound, smell, taste, feel +like + N***** appear, become, come, fall, get, go, grow, keep +adj, N, or clause

(3) S + V[T] + O

Boys and girls played soccer for fun and health. S V OBill always makes his own bed. S V OHe always borrows my clothes .S V O Our math teacher likes to play chess. S V O

(4) S + V[T] + IO + DO

My boyfriend gave me roses as my birthday S V IO DOpresent.I wrote my brother a letter last Sunday.S V IO DOWould you please pass me the salt? S V IO DO

*** bring, give, hand, mail, pass, read, sell, send, show, take, write + to*** buy, cook, find, get, leave, make +for*** ask, beg, inquire, rob +of*** borrow +from

(5) S + V[T] + O + OC

I consider you my best friend.S V O OCThe bad news made us unhappy. S V O OCHelen sometimes leaves her son alone at home.S V O OC

*** 任命命名 : appoint, call, elect, name, *** 使… .keep, leave, make, *** 認為… believe, consider, find, think

Unit 2

Connecting sentences and paragraphs

Sentences: Using Adjectives

You can make a sentence much more interesting if you add descriptive words. These descriptive words are called adjectives. They describe nouns. Ex: I have a red car with a black top.

What is paragraph? A sentence is a group of words that

expresses a complete thought. A paragraph has three main parts: the topic sentence, the body, and a concluding sentence.

A paragraph has 3 main parts:

Topic sentenceThe bodyConcluding sentence

Indenting the first line of every paragraph

The action of making this space at the beginning of a paragraph is to indent. It is important to indent the first line of every paragraph. Always remember to indent!

Topic sentence Every good paragraph has a topic sentence. When you write a paragraph, remember to use a topic sentence. The topic sentence should not be too specific or too general. It tells the readers what the paragraph is about.

The Topic Sentence A topic sentence usually comes at the beginning of a paragraph; that is, it is usually the first sentence in a formal academic paragraph. (Sometimes this is not true, but as you practice writing with this online lesson site, please keep to this rule unless you are instructed otherwise.) Not only is a topic sentence the first sentence of a paragraph, but, more importantly, it is the most general sentence in a paragraph. What does "most general" mean? It means that there are not many details in the sentence, but that the sentence introduces an overall idea that you want to discuss later in the paragraph.

http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/para.html#topic

Example of topic sentence

My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep.


Some examples of sentences that cannot be used as topic sentences.

1. My hometown is famous because it is located by Wheaton River, which is very wide, and because it is built near an unusually steep hill called Wheaton Hill. 2. There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmission and two reasons why others like cars with manual transmission.

3. Clouds are white.


#1 is that it contains too many details. A better topic sentence would be like the one mentioned above, My hometown is famous for several amazing geographical features.

#2 is not appropriate as a topic sentence because it mentions two topics, not just one. Paragraphs are usually about one main thing and so their topic sentences should also be about only one main thing.

#3 is that it is too general. It is also very boring! Would you like to read a paragraph with this topic sentence? Most people would not.

Improvement

#1 There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmission. OR (in a different paragraph):

#2 There are two reasons why some people like cars with manual transmission. #3 The shapes of clouds are determined by various factors.


Supporting sentencesthe body of a paragraph

The body consists of sentences that gives supporting information and idea about the topic sentences.

My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep.


The second and third sentences are called supporting sentences. They are called "supporting" because they "support," or explain, the idea expressed in the topic sentence. Of course, paragraphs in English often have more than two supporting ideas. The paragraph above is actually a very short paragraph. you are suggested to have at least five to seven sentences in your paragraph.

My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is probably about six hundred years old.

The Concluding Sentence

In formal paragraphs you will sometimes see a sentence at the end of the paragraph which summarizes the information that has been presented. This is the concluding sentence.

You can think of a concluding sentence as a sort of topic sentence in reverse.

My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is probably about six hundred years old. These three landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown a famous place.


You can understand concluding sentences with this example.

Consider a hamburger that you can buy at a fast-food restaurant.* A hamburger has a top bun (a kind of bread), meat, cheese, lettuce, and other elements in the middle of the hamburger, and a bottom bun.

Note how the top bun and the bottom bun are very similar. The top bun, in a way, is like a topic sentence, and the bottom bun is like the concluding sentence. Both buns "hold" the meat, onions, and so on.

Similarly, the topic sentence and concluding sentence "hold" the supporting sentences in the paragraph.

Grammar and sentence structure1. Possessive adjectives

2. Checking for the verbs3. concluding sentences4. word association5. using collocations

idea/ideal job

Sentence Patterns -1

Thanks to +N 多虧… ... 因為(=because of, owing to, due to, on

account of, as a result of….)

Thanks to his advice, I did not make the same mistake again.

Thanks to his friends’ help, he succeeded at least.

Sentence Patterns-2

enjoy, finish, mind (practice, avoid,consider, regret, keep, admit, ….)+ Ving

I enjoy watering flowers in the garden.Would you mind telling him I’ll visit him

tomorrow?Have you finished feeding the dog?

Sentence Patterns-3

With (+adj)+ N = advHe achieved his goal with ease (=easily).Sam handled the situation with little patience (=impatiently).with a smile= smilinglywith excitement= excitedlywith delight = delightedly

Sentence Patterns-4

make it a rule + to +V + that + S + V

He makes it a rule to exercise every morning.

My father makes it a rule that I have to watch the news in English every evening.

Sentence Patterns-5Sb + spend + time / money + (in) Ving He spent two hours finishing it.

It takes (+ sb) + time + to +V = N (Ving)+ take (+ sb) + time It took him two hours to finish it.

It costs (+ sb) + money + to +V = N (Ving)+ cost (+ sb) + money It costs him two dollars to buy that candy.

Sentence Patterns-5

They spent three days searching for the missing child.= It took them three days to find the missing child.She spends a lot of money on clothes every month.= It cost her a lot of money to buy clothes every month.

Follow the sentence patterns to make sentences.

1. Although he is lazy, he makes a lot of money. (she/beautiful/use/ makeup) Although she is beautiful, she uses a lot of makeup.

2. He was so frightened that he didn’t say a single word. (intelligent/ fail/ examination) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. She hasn’t been here since the tragedy occurred. (the family/home/cook/leave)__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. He was trembling as he spoke, as if he was very nervous. (the girl/cry/come in/upset)__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Unless you go now, you will be late. (come/ miss the opportunity)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. He will finish the job before the factory closes. ( pick/fruit/sun/set)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. We must go now because it is quite late. (have to/ a long way)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. His work is better than mine, but not so(as) good as John’s. ( book/interesting/Vivian)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. I think you had better go before it gets too cold. (he/I/ought to come in/ dark)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Both Gerald and George are strong, but neither of them is clever. (the bed/the sofa/wide/ comfortable)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Unit 3

Writing about the present

Simple Present Tense

When you write about daily habits and activities or things that are generally true, use the simple present tense.

1. using contraction

2. there is/there are

3. objective pronoun

Using Contractions

A contraction is a short version of two words combined, such as a pronoun and a verb (I’m = I am ) . The apostrophe (’) shows where a letter has been left out.

Ex. You are = You’re He is = He’s/She is = She’s We are = We’re They are = They’re

Simple and Compound Sentences

A simple sentence has a subject and a verb. When writers combine two simple sentences in one longer sentence, and that is called a compound sentence.

Compound Sentences

• two or more independent clauses• NO dependent clauses• Ways to make compound sentences:• a. using a comma and coordinating conjunction: and, but, or,

so, yet, nor, Ex: 1. He opened the door. He found the missing paper. He opened the door, and (so) he found the missing paper. 2. semicolon + transitional word + comma He found the missing paper; therefore, he was satisfied.

ClausesS+V

a part or all of the complete sentence

Independent Clauses•S+V•stand alone•express a complete thought •as a separate sentence•Ex: He has studied English for 10 years.

Dependent Clauses

• S+V• CAN NOT stand alone• depend on a main clause• connected by subordinating conjunctions such

as:• after, although, if, until, as, since, when …….• Ex: Since he was a kid • He has studied English for 10 years since he was

a kid.

Relative Clausesone type of dependent clauserelative pronoun (that, which, who) +VEx: She is the only one who stayed here.

Phrasesa group of words that go togetherDOES NOT have S+VEx: in the morning, at school

Types of Sentences

Simple sentences

One independent clause NO dependent clausesmay have phrases, more than one S, or V

Ex: My father came to see my school play. My father, mother and I came to school play and attended the party.

Compound Sentences

two or more independent clausesNO dependent clausesWays to make compound sentences:a. using a comma and coordinating conjunction: and, but, or, so, yet, nor,

Ex: He opened the door. He found the missing paper. He opened the door, and (so) he found the missing paper. b. semicolon + transitional word + comma He found the missing paper; therefore, he was satisfied.

Complex Sentences

one independent clause +one (or more) dependent clause

Ex. 1. When we went to school, I called my mom immediately. 2. Although it rained last night, we decided to take the path that led through the woods.

3. I knew the actress who played that part in the 1980s.

Compound-complex Sentences

two (or more) independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Ex: 1. Albert enlisted in the Army, and Robert, who was his older brother, jointed him a day later. 2. Because Roberts was a talented teacher, he was voted teacher of the year, and his students prospered.

Why Questions

You use the word because to answer a

question with why. You can put because at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. If you

use it at the beginning of a sentence, follow this clause with a comma. Because is never used in

a simple sentence.

Ex: Because Laura felt ill, she went to the doctor.

Laura went to the doctor because she felt ill.

Lan ate dinner because he was hungry.

Brain storming with Questions

Good writers often ask questions to help

them get ideas about what to write.

Ex:

Topic: A popular sport

Possible questions:

What is a popular sport?

How many people are needed to play this sport?

Is this sport popular on television?

How old is this sport?

Unit 4 Writing about the Past

Simple Past Tense When you talk about actions in the past, you use the simple past tense.

Time Phrases with the Simple Past Tense We use certain words and phrases in a sentence to help show that something happened in the past. Some of these time phrases include: last night last week this morning yesterday (two minutes) ago

The uses of past tense and the quiz

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_past_u.htm

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepast.html

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensesimpast.htm







Irregular Simple past Tense Verbs

begin began begun break broke broken bring brought brought build built built buy bought bought catch caught caught choose chose chosen cost cost cost drink drank drunk

You can put these time phrases at the beginning or the end of a sentence. Avoid using them in the middle of a sentence.

Incorrect: I yesterday scratched my knee. Correct: Yesterday I scratched my knee.

Compound sentences with But One common sentence connector is “But”. This word is often used to make compound sentences. The connector but shows a contrast. Ex: I bought a car. John bought a truck. I bought a car, but John bought a truck.

Unit 5 Describing Actions

Present Progressive Tense

1. The present progressive tense is often used to describe actions that are happening right now.

be +Verb +-ing Amanda is studying Math now.

• leave leaving• write writing • dance dancing • make making• Exercise exercising• smoke smoking• lie lying ( 說謊 )• die dying ( 死亡 )

• put putting• swim swimming • sit sitting

• stop stopping• run running• jog jogging • shop shopping

• study studying• cry crying • try trying• fix fixing• play playing

Complete the sentences with present continuous.

1. Jason is __________________(wait) at the bus stop.2. I __________________(write) a letter to my best friend.3. Excuse me, you ____________________ (sit) in my seat.4. We _____________________(not/listen/to) the music now.5. _______________Nancy ______________(study) for the quiz?

Complete the sentences with present continuous.

6. My friend and I ___________________(run) in the park.7. Do believe him. He __________________(lie). 8.______________mom___________(make dinner) now?9-10. He ________________(not/fix) the radio now. He ________________(leave).

Present tense & present continuous

Verb for present tense:belong to, cost, have**, ownbelieve, forget, like*, hate, know, prefer, understand

Sentences with different tenses

• I have two sisters. I have a house.• I am having lunch. I am having problems with

this computer.• I live in Kaohsiung. (forever)• I am living in Kaohsiung. (temporary)

Sentences with different tenses

• Paul is leaving early tomorrow morning. (future plan)

• My parents are buying me a mountain bike for my birthday. (future plan)

• He always arrives here on time.• You’re always forgetting your keys.

(complaining)

Exercises

• 1. That can’t be right! I (don’t believe/ I’m not believing) it.

• 2. Carol can’t swim today. She (has/is having) a cold.• 3. See you in the morning. I (leave/am leaving) now.• 4. ( I drive/I am driving) you can sit in the back with

Martin.

Exercises

5. Chemistry is hard. I (am not understanding/don’t understand it).

6. Where (do you go/are you going)? I haven’t finished talking to you.7. Excuse me, but (do you speak/ are you speaking) English? I

am looking for a hotel.

Using the connector “And”

Good writers often use the connector and to join words and ideas. Ex: 1. And is used to join two (or more) words that are in the same grammar category (or group). 2. The connector and is also used to form compound sentences.

Using the connector “So”

The connector “so” shows a cause and result. I was hungry, so I ate a sandwich.Leslie has a big exam tomorrow, so she is

studying at the library.

Documents

Writing 基礎英文 寫作 進四技應二甲 周怡君 September 2011. Unit 1 Understanding Sentence Basics

Writing 基礎英文寫作進四技應二甲周怡君 September 2011. Unit 1 Understanding Sentence Basics