SELF STUDY MATERIAL

RECURSIVENESS in language (KEY)

Aim: To reflect upon recursiveness in language. 

There are many different ways of combining ideas in a text. You can do so by using
coordination and/ or subordination. 

E.g.
I’ve been studying all afternoon. I need to take a break. I’m writing to you. I’m going to
keep studying until midnight.
I’ve been studying all afternoon, and I’m going to keep studying until midnight, but I
need to take a break, so I’m writing to you.
I’m writing to you as I need to take a break because I’ve been studying all afternoon
and I’m going to keep studying until midnight.

1. I’ve bought presents for everyone. I don’t have time to go to the post office. I’m
going to send them after the New Year.

 I’ve bought presents for everyone, but as I don’t have time to go to the post
office, I’m going to send them after the New Year.
 Although I’ve bought presents for everyone, I don’t have time to go to the post
office. So, I’m going to send them after the New Year.

2. I failed the first exam. I was going to fail anthropology. I was sure of that.

 As/Since/ Because I had failed the first exam, I was sure (that) I was going to
fail anthropology.

3. I’m going to Spain. I’ll get there. I’m going to be rooming with two other guys. I’ll
get to know them really well.

 When I get to Spain, I’m going to be rooming with two other guys so I’ll get to
know them really well.
 As soon as/Once/ When I get to Spain, I’ll be rooming with two other guys who
I’ll get to know really well.

4. I was young. We used to have a summer house in a small village. We don’t have it
any more. It’s too bad. I have some fond memories of the place.

 When I was young, we used to have a summer house in a small village, of which
I have some fond memories, but we don’t have it any more, which is too bad.

5. I was going to write in my diary every day. I hoped to do that. I rarely have any time.
I do write in it occasionally.

 I hoped that I would write in my dairy every day, but as I rarely have any time, I
do so only occasionally.
 I was going to write in my diary every day, which I hoped to do, but as I rarely
have any time, I do so only occasionally.