3 minute read
FROM GRAMMAR TO WRITING
PART 1 Editing Advice
1. Put the subject before the verb in all clauses. my mother came When came my mother to the U.S., our family was so happy. 2. Use when, not while, if the action has no duration. When
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While she arrived, we were waiting for her.
3. Be careful to choose the correct time word. for
She traveled during 10 hours. on
She arrived in May 2. 4. Don’t confuse before and ago.
ago I came to the U.S. three years before. 5. After a time word, use an -ing form, not a base form. learningAfter learn English, she found a job. 6. Don’t forget be and -ing with the past continuous. ingAt 9:30 last night, I was watch a program about immigration.^
were
They talking about famous immigrants on this program.^ 7. Don’t forget to use a comma if the time clause precedes the main clause.
, When he heard the news he was studying at the university. ^
PART 2 Editing Practice
Some of the shaded words and phrases have mistakes. Find the mistakes and correct them. If the shaded words are correct, write C.
C
I left my country three years ago. But my husband didn’t come with me.
He wanted to stay in our country during two more years until he
finished college. While I got here, I started to study English right away.
While I going to school, I worked in the school library.
My husband was plan to get a degree in engineering when a war broke
out in our country. When started the war, he left the country quickly
and went to a neighboring country. He was in a refugee camp during one
1. for
2. 3.
4.
5. 6.
7. 8. 9.
10.
11.
year. While he was living in the camp, he started to study English. He applied
for permission to come to the United States. After wait for one year, he finally got
permission. When he was getting here, we were so excited to see each other again.
He’s learning English quickly. After he learns English well enough, he’s
going to enter an engineering program. I know he’ll be happy until he gets
his engineering degree. Until then, he will continue to work and study. While he
finishes his program, we will celebrate.
12.
13.
14. 15.
16.
17. 18.
WRITING TIP
Use time words (before, after, while) to combine short simple sentences into more sophisticated sentences.
I graduated from college in 2001. I wasn’t sure what to do with my life.
When I graduated from college in 2001, I wasn’t sure what to do with my life. Make your writing smoother by using present participles after time words when each clause has the same subject.
After Jack moved to Boston, he decided to pursue a career in politics.
After moving to Boston, Jack decided to pursue a career in politics.
PART 3 Write
Read the prompts. Choose one and write a paragraph about it. 1. Write about a major historical event that took place in your country or in another part of the world. What was happening when this event took place? What happened afterwards? If you research your paragraph, provide your sources. 2. Write about an important event that took place in your life or in the life of a famous person.
PART 4 Edit
Reread the Summary of Unit 7 and the editing advice. Edit your writing from Part 3.
UNIT 8
Modals
Where We Live
Quality of life actually begins at home - it’s in your street, around your community. CHARLES KENNEDY
Friends gather on a rooftop in Bulgaria.