Technical Writing

Lecture 5

Advanced Grammars
1. Sentence Construction (In Details)
A. Compound Sentences
i. With Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
ii. With Semicolons
iii. With Semicolons & Conjunctive Adverbs
B. Complex Sentences with Subordinating Conjunctions
C. Compound-Complex Sentences
2. Correlative Conjuctions
3. Causative verbs
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1. Sentence Construction

A. Compound Sentences
A compound sentence has at least two independent
clauses that have related ideas and are joined by:

i. Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)

ii. Semicolons

iii. Conjunctive Adverbs or Transitional Phrases

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i. With Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
The independent clauses of the same importance can be joined by a coordinating conjunction. (there are seven:
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so [FANBOYS]).
 She did not cheat on the test, for it was not the right thing to do.
 They got there early, and they got really good seats.
 There was no ice cream in the freezer, nor did they have money to go to the store.
 I really want to go to work, but I am too sick to drive.
 I think I will buy the red car, or I will lease the blue one.
 I am counting my calories, yet I really want dessert.
 He ran out of money, so he had to stop playing poker.
More Examples:
 Everyone was busy, so I went to the movie alone.
 I would have gotten the promotion, but my attendance wasn't good enough.
 Should we start class now, or should we wait for everyone to get here?
 It was getting dark, and we weren't there yet.
 Cats are good pets, for they are clean and are not noisy.
 We have never been to Asia, nor have we visited Africa.
 He didn't want to go to the dentist, yet he went anyway.
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ii. With Semicolons

The independent clauses can be joined by a semicolon only when they are related in
thought, yet the coordinating conjunction must be omitted. (Limit the use of this
grammar to the minimal.)
Examples:

• Huda made the sugar cookies; Susan decorated them.

Huda made the sugar cookies, and Susan decorated them.

• The sky is clear; the stars are twinkling.

The sky is clear, so the stars are twinkling.

• The waves were crashing on the shore; it was a lovely sight.

The waves were crashing on the shore, but it was a lovely sight.

• Malls are great places to shop; I can find everything I need under one roof.
Malls are great places to shop, for I can find everything I need under one roof. 4
 iii. With Conjunctive Adverbs or Transitional Phrases

The independent clauses can be joined by a semicolon and a conjunctive

adverb or transitional phrase, followed by a comma. When the job of an
adverb is to connect ideas, we call it a conjunctive adverb.

MAIN CLAUSE + ; + Conjunctive Adverb + , + MAIN CLAUSE .

Some Conjunctive Adverbs

accordingly however nonetheless

also indeed otherwise
besides instead similarly
consequently likewise still
conversely meanwhile subsequently
finally moreover then
furthermore nevertheless therefore
hence next thus 5
Examples:
Lina kept talking in class; therefore, she got in trouble. [Compound Sentence]
Lina kept talking in class. Therefore, she got in trouble. [Two Simple Sentences]
Lina kept talking in class, so she got in trouble. [Compound Sentence]
Lina kept talking in class; she got in trouble. [Confusing Compound Sentences]

She went to the Mall; however, she did not find anything she wanted to buy.
She went to the Mall, but she did not find anything she wanted to buy.

Your dog got into my backyard; in addition, he dug up my flowers.

Your dog got into my backyard, and he dug up my flowers.

You are my friend; nonetheless, I feel like you are taking advantage of me.
You are my friend, yet I feel like you are taking advantage of me.

My care installments are high; on the other hand, I really enjoy driving such a nice vehicle.
My care installments are high, but I really enjoy driving such a nice vehicle.

You need to put more effort into your work; otherwise, you will not get a passing grade.

Rania is a very smart girl; therefore, it is not at all surprising she gets full marks.
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Rania is a very smart girl, so it is not at all surprising she gets full marks.
B. Complex Sentences

A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent (or
subordinate) clause, linked by a Subordinating Conjunctions.

S o m e S u b o r d i n at i n g C o n j u n c t i o n s

After Before If
Although By the time In case
As Even if Now that
As soon as Even though Once
Because Every time Since
So that Unless Whenever
Why Until Whether or not
The first time When While
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which who that
 Examples of Complex Sentences:
 As Suad blew out the candles atop her birthday cake, she caught her hair on fire.
 Sara begins to sneeze whenever she opens the window to get a breath of fresh air.
 When the doorbell rang, my dog Skeeter barked loudly.

1) _________ the basement flooded, we spent all day cleaning up.

A. After
B. Although
C. Before
D. Even if

2) I don’t want to go to the movies _____________ I hate the smell of popcorn.

A. Although
B. Because
C. Whenever
D. So that

3) I paid Sulaf Al-Nasser, ___________ garden design work is top-notch.

A. Whenever
B. Whose
C. After
D. If
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 More Examples of Complex Sentences:

4) ___________ spring arrives, we have to be prepared for more snow.

A. Because
B. Until
C. Although
D. Now that

5) _____________ the alarm goes off, I hit the snooze button.

A. As soon as
B. Because
C. Before
D. Unless

6) _____________ you do not put more effort into your work, you will not get a passing grade.
A. Unless
B. If
C. Despite
D. Although
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 C. Compound-Complex Sentences

A compound-complex sentences have at least two independent

clauses and at least one dependent (or subordinate) clauses.

Example:

Ahmad voted against the legislation because he felt that it was not strong
enough; however, he also offered to continue discussions, which we will do
next week.

Note: we have two independent clauses and two dependent clauses

Blue: independent clauses

Green: dependent clauses beginning with “because” & “which”
Pink: conjunctive adverbs linking two independent clauses 10
 2. Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative Conjunctions come in pairs, and you have to use both of

them in a sentence to make them work.

Some Correlative Conjunctions

Both….and Either….or
Neither….nor
Not only….but also Whether….or .. not
Rather….than
as …. As As many …. As
No sooner …. Than
Just as …. So Such …. That
No later …. Than
So …. As Scarcely …. When
No longer …. Than
The more …. The more The more …. The less

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Examples:
Both….and
 Both Zahra and Sally did well on the exam. (two subjects)
 Zahra scored high on both the exam and quiz. (two objects)

Not only….but also

 Her phone is not only super fast but also very luxurious. (two adjectives)
 They need not only food but also shelter. (two objects)
 My husband not only took me to the Mall but also bought me some accessories. (two verb
phrases)
 My husband took me not only to the Mall but also to my grandma’s house. (shared verb for two
objects)
 Not only did my husband take me to the Mall, but he also bought me some accessories. (two
clauses [with comma])
 Not only did my husband take me to the Mall, but my friend also took me to the beach. (two
clauses [with comma]) 12
 Examples:

Either….or
 We can eat either apple or mango. (two objects)
 We can either eat now or watch the movie first – it is up to you. (two verb
phrases)
 Either the father or the mother should take care of the newly-born baby. (two
subjects)
 Either we eat now, or I will have my dinner alone. (two clauses)

Neither….nor
 He liked neither Toronto nor New York. (two objects)
He did not like Toronto or New York. (alternative)
 The restaurant neither have fish nor offer a discount. (two verb phrases)
 Neither you nor I speak Spanish. (two subjects) 13
Examples:

Whether….or…not
 Whether or not my father likes it, I am going out tonight.
 Whether my father likes it or not, I am going out tonight.
 The instructors were asked whether (if) [or not] they recommended the book to
their classes.
 The instructors were asked whether (if) they recommended the book to their
classes [or not].
 We cannot see whether tourism is harmful or beneficial.
 Whether you agree or not is another issue.
The more …. The more/less
 The more you use the credit card, the higher interest rate the bank will earn.
 The more you master English grammars, the best you will do on your exam.
 The more the temperature rises, the less you need to wear a jacket. 14
3. Causative Verbs
let, make, have, get, help
1. LET = PERMIT something to happen/someone to do something
Let + person/thing + verb (base)
2. MAKE = FORCE/REQUIRE someone to do something
Make + person/thing + verb (base)
3. HAVE = GIVE someone responsibility to do something
Have + person + verb (base)
Have + thing + verb (present participle)
4. GET = CONVINCE someone to do something
Get + person + to + verb (base)
Get + thing + to + + verb (present participle)
5. HELP = ASSIST someone in doing something
Help + person + verb (base)
Help + person + to + verb (base) 15
Examples:
I do not let my kids watch violent movies.
I do not allow my kids to watch violent movies.
I do not permit my kids to watch violent movies.

The instructor made his students re-write their paperwork.

The instructor forced his students to re-write their paperwork.
The instructor required his students to re-write their paperwork.

I will have my assistant call you tomorrow.

I had my hair cut yesterday.

We have to get our employees to arrive on time.

We have to convince our employees to arrive on time.
I got my hair cut yesterday.

He helped me carry the boxes.

He helped me to carry the boxes.
He assisted me in carrying the boxes. 16