Название: Английский язык

Жанр: Филология

Рейтинг:

Просмотров: 2938

Unit 5. structures with omission *

* Based on Leech and Svartvik, A Communicative Grammar of English, 1975

A good writer will make his sentences more concise (i.e. shorter and clearer) by using various structures of omission. These include:

1. Coordination

a. Not only classical, but popular art is being seriously studied these days. [Classical art is being seriously studied these days; popular art is, (too).]

b. Either West Germany or Holland will win the World Cup. [West Germany will win the World Cup or (else) Holland will do so.]

c. John washes and irons his own shirts. [John washes his own shirts; he irons them (too).]

d. Peter cut himself a slice of bread and cheese. [Peter cut himself a slice of bread; he (also) cut himself some cheese.]

e. He ate the fruit, though not the nuts. [He ate the fruit; though he did not eat the nuts.]

2. Non-finite clauses

(to-infinitive clause: -ing clause; -ed clause)

a. to-infinitiveclause

I hope to be present

[I hope that I shall be present].

b. -ing clause

Living in the country, we had few social visits.

[Since we lived in the country, we had few social visits.]

c. -ed clause

The man injured by the bullet was taken to the hospital. [The man who was injured by the bullet was taken to the hospital.]

3. Non-finite clauses introduced by a subordinator

a. -ing clause

He wrote his novel while working as a research assistant.

[.... while he was working ...]

b. -ed clause

Though defeated, he remained a popular leader.

[Though he had been defeated, ....]

4. Verbless clauses (having no verb, and usually no subject)                                                                                                      a. Whether right or wrong, he usually wins the argument.

   [Whether he is right or wrong, ....]

b. A man of few words, George says what he has to say in a few minutes.

[Being a man of few words, ....]

3.1 Make the following sentences more concise by using one of the above structures of omission. The words which can be omitted have been underlined).

1. Tonight we are flying to Athens and next week we are flying to London.

2. He was determined that he would be the one that they chose.

3. Because she wanted to look well, she decided to diet.

4. He was sickened by the thought of so much waste and he decided that he would do something about it.

5. I came into the room and I found him waiting for me.