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Chapter I: The Sentence

Lecture Two: Common Errors

Learn to Write

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Common Errors

Sentence fragments

Comma faults

Run-on sentences

Mixed construction

Shifted construction

11

22

33

44

55

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1. Sentence fragments

(1) He did not come to school. Because he was ill.

(2) The bell rings. The end of the afternoon school.

(3) She dislikes people. Who don’t help others.

(4) I ached all over. Especially in my right shoulder.

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2. Comma faults

(1) He works very hard, he always gets straight A’s.

(2) She attended classes in the morning, she worked at the computer laboratory in the afternoon.

(3) I don’t trust him, he never keeps his promise.

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3. Run-on sentences(1) She came in then she asked me whether I

knew anything about it.

(2) She took the exam this was her last chance.

(3) There used to be two skyscrapers they were later destroyed in the terrorist attack.

(4) I feel rather sleepy now I went to bed very late last night.

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4. Mixed construction

(1) People who had bad backs, doctors advise them to sleep on a hard mattress.

(2) In my class there is a girl sings beautifully.

(3) My father’s job is a technician.

(4) Competition is great for the well-paid professions, such as doctors and lawyers.

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5. Shifted construction

(1) I enjoy the Christmas holidays, for you have a chance to visit your friends.

(2) He was so thirsty that he drinks three glasses of water.

(3) If I were you and was able to afford it, I will buy a lap computer.

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1. That day she put on the new dress was made by her mother.

2. Being made of stone, the builder expected the house to stand for a century.

3. The teacher who likes to go on and on in class without any activities for the students.

4. I don’t like teachers always ask students questions in class.

Class work 1 Find out the mistakes in the sentences:

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5. The next afternoon we made our way through the harbor of Okinawa. That island, which had made history during World War II.

6. I cite these examples to show you how interesting accounting can be. And to make you understand what problems an accountant has to solve.

Class work 1 Find out the mistakes in the sentences:

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7. He took a couple of steps, stopped, reached out and turned a valve, as he did so, he told us the valves had to be checked daily.

8. Two volumes of this work are now completed the first will be published next year.

Class work 1 Find out the mistakes in the sentences:

∧

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9. I had always admired his novels, and when I had a chance to meet him, a real delight.

10. Charles was a hard worker, but I still wondered how was he going to get everything finished on time?

Class work 1 Find out the mistakes in the sentences:

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11. Grazing peacefully like cattle, we saw a herd of buffalo on the other side of the valley.

12. To find the needed information, the whole book had to be read.

Class work 1 Find out the mistakes in the sentences:

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Improve the following sentences:

1. Mary was friendly to my sister because she wanted her to be her bridesmaid.

2. I may go to labor service center or read it from the newspaper.

my sister

information

Class work 2

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Improve the following sentences:

3. Whether one enjoys or resents advertisements, we are actually bombarded with them every hour of the day.

4. Although everyone is equal to an opportunity, but not everyone can seize it.

one is / he is

Class work 2

yet / still / nevertheless

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Improve the following sentences:

5. We should study as much knowledge as possible so that we can be fully prepared for the future.

6. In the past the price of milk was so expensive that most families could not afford it.

get / acquire / gain

Class work 2

highthings —— expensive

price —— high

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Improve the following sentences:

7. In recent one or two years, people who take TOFEL have decreased.

8. Open your computer and you will know everything going on in the world.

the number of people

Turn on---Chinglish!

Class work 2

has

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Improve the following sentences:

9. In my opinion, I believe that the present medical system is in need of reform.

10. People are trying to find a solution to solve the problem.

或： I believe that the present medical system…

Class work 2

the approach to the entrance to the key to

n.

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Improve the following sentences:11. With the increasing number of population an

d factories, the need for fresh water is growing rapidly.

12. Because of the reason that he didn’t study hard enough, he did not pass the exam.

people

Class work 2

for this reason, for that reason

because of this, because of that

the reason for sth. , the cause of sth.

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Improve the following sentences:

13. The chief reasons for the change have five points.

14. If a student only has knowledge of natural science, he will become a one-legged man when he comes out of university.

There are five reasons for the change.

well-roundedgraduates from---Chinglish again.

not

Class work 2

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Improve the following sentences:

15. To keep the air clean, we must move the factories which give off poisonous gases to the countryside.

16. Without television, people can’t get information which comes from other parts of the world immediately.

to the countryside

move… to…give off … to…

get sth. immediately

Class work 2

comes immediately

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Improve the following sentences:

17.My friend is a handsome man; he has a wide forehead, a straight nose and long brown hair with glasses. long brown hair, a wide forehead and a straight nose with glasses

Class work 2

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Homework (1)

1. Self-Study: Read pp. 23-26 2. Written work

Ex. 1, 2, 3, 4 (pp. 76-79) Do it on a piece of paper like this! Submission place:

Room 507, 教一北 Due dates: 5:00pm, Sept. 27 (Wed.) --- Classes 61, 66 12:00pm, Sept. 29 (Fri.) --- Classes 65, 62

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1. Take notes and review: The first lectures and the pages we

have covered. 2. Discuss the questions for the

last written assignments.

Homework (1)