2. Learning objectives
1. Sentence fragments,
run-ons, splices
2. Sentence structure (4
types)
3. Linking words (4
types)
4. Noun phrases
Type of sentence
structure
Elements
Independent
clause
Dependent Use of
conjunctions
Simple 1 0 sometimes
Compound 2+ 0 always
Complex 1+ 1+ usually
Compound-
Complex
2+ 1+ always
3. Why do we use a variety of sentence
structures rather than just a simple
sentence structure?
4. How china is changing the future of
shopping
◦ https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_wang_how_china_is_changing_the_future_of_shopping/tran
script
◦ Listening & reading
9. Compound sentence structure
E-commerce in China has been growing at twice the speed of the United States and a lot of the growth
is coming from mobile.
Subject + verb + linker (and/but/etc.) + subject + verb
10. Independent markers
◦ For contrast
however, nevertheless, conversely, nonetheless, on the other hand
◦ For cause + effect
consequently, therefore, thus, as a consequence, as a result
◦ For adding related information
also, furthermore, moreover, in addition, additionally
◦ Can be in the middle of the sentence. Can also be at the beginning of the sentence. The clause with
independent markers is independent and so can be on its own.
◦ E.g. With this integrated ecosystem, it is so easy for them to buy, one click after another. However, this new
shopping behaviour is creating a lot of challenges for those once-dominant businesses.
◦ E.g. With this integrated ecosystem, it is so easy for them to buy, one click after another, however, this new
shopping behaviour is creating a lot of challenges for those once-dominant businesses.
12. Coordinating conjunctions
◦ and / but / yet
◦ nor / or
◦ so
◦ Always in the middle of the sentence. Can’t be at the beginning of the sentence.
◦ E.g. Every month, 500 million consumers are buying on mobile phones, and to put that into
context, that is a total population of the United States, UK and Germany combined, but it is
not just about the scale of the e-commerce, it is the speed of adoption and the aggregation of
the ecosystems.
◦ E.g. Every month, 500 million consumers are buying on mobile phones, and to put that into
context, that is a total population of the United States, UK and Germany combined. But it is
not just about the scale of the e-commerce, it is the speed of adoption and the aggregation of
the ecosystems.
14. Complex sentence structure
When this huge base of mobile shoppers meets with aggregated ecosystems, chemical reactions happen.
You should come to China because here you will get a glimpse into the future.
Subject + verb + linker (when/because/which/etc.) + subject + verb
15. Compound-complex sentence structure
The owner of a fashion company told me that he is so frustrated because his customers keep
complaining that his products are not new enough.
Subject + verb + linker (when/because/which/etc.) + subject + verb
16. Subordinating conjunctions
◦ For contrast
although, even though, whereas, while
◦ For cause + effect
as, because, since
◦ Can be in the middle of the sentence. Can also be at the beginning of the sentence.
◦ The clause with subordinating conjunctions is dependent, which means it always has to go with an
independent clause instead of existing on its own.
◦ E.g. Although A huge shopping revolution is happening in China right now, frauds are common.
◦ E.g. Although A huge shopping revolution is happening in China right now. Frauds are common.
17. When you attach a subordinate clause in front of a main clause, use a comma, like this:
subordinate clause + , + main clause .
Although with this integrated ecosystem, it is so easy for them to buy, this new shopping behaviour is
creating a lot of challenges for those once-dominant businesses.
When this huge base of mobile shoppers meets with aggregated ecosystems, chemical reactions
happen.
Since the internet was not as prevalent in my generation, online shopping did not exist then.
If you think of it, for a child like Yuan Yuan, shopping is a very different idea compared to what my
generation had in mind.
19. Although with this integrated ecosystem, it is so easy for them to
buy, this new shopping behaviour is creating a lot of challenges for
those once-dominant businesses.
This new shopping behaviour is creating a lot of challenges for those
once-dominant business although with this integrated ecosystem, it
is so easy for them to buy.
This new shopping behaviour created by this integrated ecosystem
is creating a lot of challenges for those once-dominant business
although it has made it so easy for them to buy.
20. When this huge base of mobile shoppers meets with aggregated
ecosystems, chemical reactions happen.
Chemical reactions happen when this huge base of mobile shoppers
meets with aggregated ecosystems.
21. Since the internet was not as prevalent in my generation, online
shopping did not exist then.
Online shopping did not exist then since the internet was not as
prevalent in my generation.
Online shopping did not exist in my generation since the internet
was not as prevalent then.
22. If you think of it, for a child like Yuan Yuan, shopping is a very
different idea compared to what my generation had in mind.
Shopping is a very different idea compared to what my generation
had in mind if you think of it, for a child like Yuan Yuan.
28. Relative Clause
For people For object For time For place
Who What When Where
For method For reason For possession
How Why Whose / the ____ of which
e.g. It took China less than five years to become a country of mobile commerce, the
reason of which is because of the two technology platforms, Alibaba and Tencent.
29. Relative Clause
◦ My sister who lives in Australia loves 3D jewelry design.
More than 1
defining relative clause (no comma)
to define which sister I refer to
◦ My sister, who lives in Australia loves 3D jewelry design.
Only 1
non-defining relative clause (comma)
to describe my sister (no need to define as I only have 1)
How many sisters do I have in each of the sentence
above?
30. Relative Clause
We use non-defining relative clause more often in academic
writing to make the writing more detailed while more succinct.
If you give them ultra-convenience, which really works in grocery
shopping, they're going to switch their shopping behaviours online.
adj. to give extra information/elaboration about ultra-convenience
32. Handout - sentence fragments
1. Which of these are sentence fragments
and which are complete sentences ?
2. Read the following paragraph and
identify the sentence fragments
Can you make the sentences more accurate?
33. Handout - run-ons and comma splices
3. Look at the sentences and
Identify which are correct
Identify which are run-ons and which are comma splices
Correct the sentences that need changing
34. Handout - fragments, run-ons, splices
4. Read the paragraph and find and replace any problem sentences (fragments, run-ons,
splices)
35. Handout - stringy sentences
◦ 5. Correct the sentences and make them clearer, such as by dividing the sentences and by
changing the linking words as appropriate. Remember that there are many ways to
change them.
36. Handout – extra practice
6. Identify and correct the paragraph using what you have practiced during the class:
38. Noun phrase
◦ It took China less than five years to become a country of
mobile commerce, and that is largely because there are two
technology platforms, Alibaba and Tencent.
◦ It took China less than five years to become a country of
mobile commerce, and that is largely because of the two
technology platforms, Alibaba and Tencent.
39. Study the sets of noun phrases below and try to identify which structure is being used in each set.
B
SET
1
government insurance
contributions
heart disease
developing world life
expectancy rates
C
SET
2
employee’s healthcare
insurance
the critic’s argument
the healthcare
system’s deterioration
40. Study the sets of noun phrases below and try to identify which structure is being used in each set.
D
SET
3
attempts to improve
reluctance to
participate
ability to breed
A
SET
4
an emphasis on crisis
care
incentives for building
community health
centres
the health care
systems of
industrialised countries
46. Linking words and phrases
◦ https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/4_writingskills/writing_tuts/linking_LL/linking3.html
◦ https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/slc/writing/organization/transition-words
