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Sentence Patterns 1 Answer Key

Section 1: Test What You Know

Activity 1.1 Which is right?

Tick which of these examples forms a grammatically correct sentence. Look carefully at the
differences in punctuation, as well as the content and form of the words.

a) I like this class. It is very interesting. OK

b) I like this class; it is very interesting. OK
c) I like this class, it is very interesting. Not OK comma splice
d) I like this class, and it is very interesting. OK
e) I like this class because it is very interesting. OK
f) Because it is very interesting, I like this class. OK
g) I like this class it is very interesting. Not OK a run-on sentence
h) Because it is very interesting. Not OK a sentence fragment
i) I like this class. OK
j) He likes running, jogging and to go swimming. Not OK lacks parallelism

Activity 1.2 Activity 1.2 Finding verbs

Read the paragraph below and circle all the verbs.

Together with corporate demands, ( ) the current gold price is pressurising gold
producers to cut costs, increase tonnes processed or selectively mine higher-grade areas. One
other approach is to produce a value-added product, such as 99.99% gold. ( ) The premium
payable on 24 carat gold is significant and there is a growing demand for gold jewellery. ( )
Recently, chloride re-leach and solvent extraction (SX) have been applied to gold refining. ( ) This
suggests that there may also be an opportunity for the refining of gold directly from cyanide
liquors.

Activity 1.3 Identifying sentence building blocks

Re-read the paragraph and identify the following grammatical items. Write the letter of the item in
the brackets next to the example it describes:

a) A phrase d) A simple sentence

b) An independent clause e) A compound sentence
c) A dependent clause

(a) Together with corporate demands, (b) the current gold price is pressurising gold producers to
cut costs, increase tonnes processed or selectively mine higher-grade areas. One other approach is
to produce a value-added product, such as 99.99% gold. (e) The premium payable on 24 carat gold
is significant and there is a growing demand for gold jewellery. (d) Recently, chloride re-leach and
solvent extraction (SX) have been applied to gold refining. (c) This suggests that there may also be
an opportunity for the refining of gold directly from cyanide liquors.

Activity 1.3 Identifying independent and dependent clauses

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Which of these clauses is dependent (D), which is independent (I) and which is not a clause (NC)?
More online here: https://www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/style/phrases_clauses.html

a) engineering is a science I
b) following the investigation NC
c) although I dont like it D
d) which is the best option D
e) to protect the environment NC
f) this is the reason for our investigation I
g) when we started the experiment D

Section 2: Simple and Compound Sentences

Activity 2.1 Review of simple sentences

Look at these simple sentences and discuss the questions with a partner.

1. Robots can function in hostile environments.

2. Robots are useful for exploring the ocean floor.
3. Humans and robots design and perform difficult and dangerous tasks.

a) How many clauses are contained in a simple sentence? One

b) Do these sentences contain a dependent or independent clause? Independent
c) Can simple sentences contain more than one subject? Yes humans + robots in 3
(this is a compound subject, i.e. the two nouns combine to form one noun phrase)
d) Can simple sentences contain more than one verb? Yes perform + design in 3
(this is a compound verb, i.e. they act here as a single verb)
e) How many main ideas are contained in these simple sentences? As each simple
sentence contains one independent clause, each contains one main idea.

Simple sentences can also be joined with sentence linkers, but they remain separate grammatical
sentences linked in meaning by an adverb, which has various possible logical functions:

Robots can function in hostile environments. Consequently, they are useful for exploring
the ocean floor. (adverb sentence linker = introduces the effect or result)

Activity 2.2 Review of compound sentences

Look at these compound sentences and answer the questions about them.

1. There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed. (Peter Sellers, 1925-1980)
2. The universe and human stupidity are the only infinite things, and I'm not sure about the
former. (Albert Einstein, 1879-1955)

a) How many clauses are contained in a compound sentence? 2+

b) What type of clause do they contain? Independent
c) How many main ideas are contained in these sentences? Two
d) Is one idea more important than the other? The two ideas are equally important.
Compound sentences are therefore a good choice when this is the case.

There are three main ways to connect the clauses in a compound sentence:

Method One: Use a coordinator see the examples above

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There is a specific group of seven words called coordinators which can connect the
independent clauses in a compound sentence. Do you know which ones they are?
For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS) These are also known as coordinating
conjunctions.
Organise these labels into the correct order for a typical compound sentence using a
coordinator:

Comma (optional) Independent clause Independent clause Coordinator

IC + Comma + Coordinator + IC

Method Two: Use a conjunctive adverb (also known as a sentence linker)

The linker establishes the logical link between the two parts of the sentence:

1. Britain has a maritime climate; therefore, it has warm summers and cool winters.
2. Summers in Newcastle are relatively short and they can also be quite cool; however, in the
south of England they are usually longer and warmer.
3. Students must pay their tuition fees before they attend classes; otherwise, they will be
deregistered.

a) There are many kinds of conjunctive adverb/ sentence linker. Underline the conjunctive
adverb in the three examples above. Do they all have the same meaning?
b) Circle the punctuation in these sentences, and then order the labels below. Use the
examples above to help you.

Independent Independent Conjunctive

Comma Semi-colon
clause(s) clause(s) adverb
IC + Semi-colon + Conj. adverb + Comma + IC

Method Three: Omit the sentence linker

a) Look again at the three examples given under Method Two above. Can the conjunctive
adverb be removed without causing confusion (i.e. leaving only the semi-colon to connect
the two parts of the sentence)? Yes in 1/2 but not 3 otherwise (meaning if not) is
required to establish that deregistration is a consequence of not paying fees.

Section 3: Writing Simple and Compound Sentences

Activity 3.1

Look at the pairs of sentences given below. Re-write them as separate simple sentences which are
joined by a sentence linker, and/or in compound form using one of the three example methods.
You will need to think about the logical link between the two sentences to choose the correct
coordinator or adverb. Use the Chart from your teacher to help you.

1a) Renewable energy sources are considered environmentally friendly.

1b) Renewable energy sources can have a negative environmental impact.
Connected simple sentences
Renewable energy sources are considered environmentally friendly. However, they can have a
negative impact.
Compound Sentences
Renewable energy sources are considered environmentally friendly but they can have a negative
environmental impact.

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Renewable energy sources are considered environmentally friendly; however, they can have a
negative environmental impact.

2a) Nuclear power relies on uranium as its fuel.

2b) Nuclear power cannot be regarded as truly sustainable.
Connected Simple Sentences
Nuclear power relies on uranium as its fuel. As a result, it cannot be regarded as truly sustainable.
Compound Sentences
Nuclear power relies on uranium as its fuel so it cannot be regarded as truly sustainable.
Nuclear power relies on uranium as its fuel; therefore, it cannot be regarded as truly sustainable.

3a) France and Sweden are least reliant on fossil fuels.

3b) France and Sweden will not need to greatly change their productions methods.
Connected Simple Sentences
France and Sweden are least reliant on fossil fuels. Therefore, they will not need to greatly change
their productions methods
Compound Sentences
France and Sweden are least reliant on fossil fuels and/so they will not need to greatly change their
productions methods.
France and Sweden are least reliant on fossil fuels; therefore, they will not need to greatly change
their productions methods.

4a) Fossil fuels appear to be an unattractive long-term option.

4b) Fossil fuels account for 50% of fuel used in electricity generation.
Connected Simple Sentences
Fossil fuels account for 50% of fuel used in electricity generation. However, they appear to be an
unattractive long-term option.
Compound Sentences
Fossil fuels account for 50% of fuel used in electricity generation but they appear to be an
unattractive long-term option.
Fossil fuels account for 50% of fuel used in electricity generation; however, they appear to be an
unattractive long-term option.

5a) There will be a short-fall in energy production.

5b) It is not known how the short-fall will be addressed.
Connected Simple Sentences
There will be a short-fall in energy production. However, it is not known how the short-fall will be
addressed.
Compound Sentences
There will be a short-fall in energy production but/yet/and it is not known how this will be
addressed.
There will be a short-fall in energy production; however, it is not known how this will be addressed.

Section 4: Fixing Typical Sentence Problems

Activity 4.1 Sentence fragments

A sentence fragment is incomplete, as it does not contain an independent clause. Look at these
examples of sentence fragments and correct them.

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1) Hence, the issue as the preferred solution [is] more pertinent today than ever before.
2) The problematic treatment and selection of the sample [occurred] in both situations.
3) Cancers are usually composed of clones and cells within each clone, [and these cells] share
the same phenotypic and genotypic characteristics.

Activity 4.2 Run-on sentences

This is a problem where two or more independent clauses are used one after the other without
punctuation: I went to the bank she went to the caf. Turn these examples into correctly joined
and punctuated compound sentences.

1) The procedure was done the machine was recalibrated.

The procedure was done and the machine was recalibrated
2) A run-on sentence is incorrect two or more independent clauses are used one after the
other.
A run-on sentence is incorrect as two or more independent clauses are used one after the
other.
3) They cannot be repatriated there is no evidence that such a pattern is going to change.
They cannot be repatriated and there is no evidence that such a pattern is going to
change.
They cannot be repatriated; moreover, there is no evidence that such a pattern is going to
change.
4) Cancer is a genetically heterogeneous disease this heterogeneity reflects variable
biological features.
Cancer is a genetically heterogeneous disease and/ ; this heterogeneity reflects variable
biological features.

Activity 4.3 Comma splices

This problem is similar to that of a run-on sentence, but the independent clauses are separated by
a comma no coordinator is present: I went to the bank, she went to the caf. Identify which
examples contain comma splices and add the correct punctuation or coordinator to form an
accurate sentence. More online here:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_47.htm#commspliceex

1) Therefore, the projects modelling and experimental results are in agreement, [and] this
confirms the results in [3].
2) Following the procedure and observation of the results, the machine was recalibrated. OK
3) Tumour genomic sequencing analyses have revealed the coexistence of many
independent clones, [but] only one has become the dominant clone at the time of
diagnosis.
Tumour genomic sequencing analyses have revealed the coexistence of many
independent clones; however, only one has become the dominant clone at the time of
diagnosis.
4) This improvement in infrastructure in developing countries, such as those in South East
Asia, will increase intra- and inter-regional trade, [as] countries within this area are
becoming closer in terms of economic distance.

Activity 4.1 Parallelism

Faults with parallelism occur when each part or item of a list or a comparison/contrast does not
use the same grammatical pattern. Spot the problems in the examples below and make sure each
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item follows the same grammatical pattern. More online here:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/parallelism_quiz.htm

1) Refugees are subjected to unlawful detention, arrest, imprisoned, fines, and they are
deported.
Refugees are subjected to unlawful detention, arrest, imprisonment, fines, and they are
deportation.

2) The objective of this project is to prepare the rig for testing, conduct experimental work and
comparing it with modelling predictions, and the investigation of the effects of instability on
journal bearings.
The objective of this project is to prepare the rig for testing, conduct experimental work and
compare it with modelling predictions, and the investigate of the effects of instability on
journal bearings.

3) The limitations of the project were in the planning of the team work and the lathe broke
down, as these led to delays in the schedule of work.
The limitations of the project were in the planning of the team work and the breakdown of
the lathe, as these led to delays in the schedule of work.

4) These hallmarks include: enabling a hyperproliferative state, evading growth suppression,

evading death signals, enabling a state of replicative immortality, being angiogenic, invading
and metastasising, evasion of the host immune system, and modification of cellular
energetics.
These hallmarks include: enabling a hyperproliferative state, evading growth suppression,
evading death signals, enabling a state of replicative immortality, being angiogenic, invading
and metastasising, evading of the host immune system, and modifying of cellular energetics.

Created: Sharon Pointer, May 2015