1. Writing tips cohesion

2. Cohesion Grammar dependency: Subject-verb agreement Adverbs/adjectives as modifiers Ellipsis Parallelism …

3. Some tips concerning cohesive elements from the Oxford Guide to Writing Grammar dependency at the clause level: Do not waste the main elements of the clause (subject, verb, object) The fact of the war had the effect of causing many changes Vs The war caused many changes

4.  Use predicate adjectives instead of attributive adjectives hooked on ‘empty’ words  Riots became frequent affairs.  The day was a perfect one.  Mr martin is a quiet, patient, and cautious person.

5.  Riots became frequent.  The day was perfect.  Mr martin is quiet, patient, and cautious.

6. Express modifiers in the fewest possible words Make these statements less wordy –He acted in an unnatural way –The organization of a small business can be described in a brief statement –American exploration was rapid, considering the means which the pioneers had available to them –The targets that are supplied in skeet shooting are discs made of clay

7. Express modifiers in the fewest possible words He acted in an unnatural way / unnaturally The organization of a small business can be described in a brief statement /breefly described American exploration was rapid, considering the means which the pioneers had available to them / available to the pioneers The targets that are supplied in skeet shooting are discs made of clay / skeet targets are clay discs

8.  Use participles  It leaves us with the thought that we were hasty  This is the idea that was suggested last week  Because they were tired, the men returned to camp  The women of the settlement would gather together at one home to work on the quilt. They would bring their children with them and spend the entire day, chatting gaily as they worked.

9.  It leaves us with the thought that we were hasty.  It leaves us thinking that we were hasty.  This is the idea that was suggested last week.  This is the idea suggested last week.  Because they were tired, the men returned to camp.  Tired, the men returned to camp.  The women of the settlement would gather together at one home to work on the quilt. They would bring their children with them and spend the entire day, chatting gaily as they worked.  The women of the settlement would gather together at one home to work on the quilt, bringing their children and spending the entire day chatting gaily as they worked.

10. Do not state what sentence structure itself makes clear  Use colon or dash for announcements  There were many reasons for the civil war, which include slavery, economic expansion, states’ rights, cultural differences and sectional jealousies.  There were many reasons for the civil war: slavery, economic expansion, states’ rights, cultural differences and sectional jealousies.  But a counterforce has been established within the weapons platoon. This counterforce is the anti-tank squad.  But a counterforce has been established within the weapons platoon – the anti-tank squad.

11.  Use ellipsis  When you are late, you must sign yourself in.  When late, you must sign yourself in.  He lost his wallet; she lost her pocketbook.  He lost his wallet; she, her pocketbook.

12. Subject conceived of as single entity  singular verb agreement Collectives Words expressing time, distance, money, time None /Neither/Either Subject-verb agreement The meaning principle

13.  Case 1  My family have decided to move to New York. They’re moving in April.  Case 2  The average family has 3.6 members. It is smaller than 50 years ago.

14.  Singular nouns with plural verbs  Case 1  My family have decided to move to New York. They’re moving in April.  Plural when the group is seen as a collection of people doing things like deciding, hoping or wanting  Case 2  The average family has 3.6 members. It is smaller than 50 years ago.  Singular when the group is seen as an impersonal unit.

15. Pronoun preferences –[case 1] –The committee, who are hoping to announce important changes… –[case 2] –The committee, which was elected…

16.  A number of people ________tried to find the treasure  A lot of my friends _________to immigrate  Plenty of shops ________cheques  A large number of problems still ________to be solved  The majority of criminals ________violent

17.  Singular quantifying expressions with plural nouns and verbs  A number of people have tried to find the treasure  A lot of my friends want to immigrate (not …wants, but A lot of patience is needed …)  Plenty of shops take cheques  A large number of problems still have to be solved  The majority of criminals are violent

18. Most/most of Most_ N (when there is no other determiner) Most children like ice cream Most of _ determiner /pronoun Most cheese is made from cow’s milk Most of the people here know each other Most of my friends live abroad Most of us think he was wrong

19. None of When used with plural nouns, the verb can be singular (more formal) or plural (more informal) None of my friends is/are interested When used with uncountable nouns, the verb is singular None of the work was done

20. Either Either + singular verb and noun –Come on Tuesday or Thirsday. Either day is fine Either of + plural noun –I don’t like either of them The verb is generally singular, but in an informal style, it can be plural –Either of the children is perfectly capable of looking after the baby –She just doesn’t care what either of her parents say

21. when a pronoun is used later on in a clause to refer back to either + noun/pronoun, it can be singular (more formal) or plural (less formal) –If either of the boys phones, tell him/them I’ll be in this evening

22. neither Neither + singular noun /verb –Can you come on Monday or Tuesday? Neither day is possible. Neither of (before a determiner) + plural noun + singular verb (formal), plural verb (informal) –Neither of my brothers is/are married

23. Where _____ that five pounds I lent you? Ten dollars _____spent altogether. Twenty miles _____a long way to go. More than one person ____going to… The US ____anxhious to improve its image. Consolidated Fruitgrowers _____just taken over Universal Foodstores.

24.  Plural expressions with singular verbs  Amounts and quantities (time, money, distance…)  Where is that five pounds I lent you?  Ten dollars was spent altogether.  Twenty miles is a long way to go.  More than one person is going to…  Countries and organizations  The US is anxhious to improve its image.  Consolidated Fruitgrowers has just taken over Universal Foodstores.

25. Other cases  Indefinite person (singular) + they  If a person doesn’t want to go on living, they are often very difficult to help.  If anybody calls, take their name, please.  Somebody left their umbrella.

26.  One of the…who have/has (both possible, even if strictly speaking plural is more correct)  She’s one of the few women who have/has climbed Everest

27.  The biggest timewaster is meetings  General Rule: the verb normally agrees with the subject, not with a following complement But…  The most interesting thing on radio and TV last weekend, without any doubt, was/were the tennis championships  If the subject is a long way from the verb, the verb can agree with the complement

28. This often happens when the subject is a what-clause –What I am most interested in is/are your emotions –What we need is/are a few bright young engineers

29. The proximity principle Agreement must be made with subject noun nearest to verb

30. There is/*are a photocopier and two computers in the staffroom. There are/*is two computers and a photocopier in the staffroom. There’s no room - either a chair or two tables have/*is got to be moved. There’s no room - either two tables or a chair has/*have got to be moved

31. The principle of non-intervention Ignore all plural forms in intervening prepositional phrases

32. The CEO along with the management team is expected to fly in from London. The Prime Minister, as well as several Cabinet Ministers, believes/*believe in a tough financial policy. The Managing Director, together with heads of department, is/*are preparing a new budget.

33. Complete the following sentences using is/are, was/were, has/have or doesn’t/don’t and other suitable words. Be careful to make nouns, pronouns and verbs agree.

34. I can’t be bothered to take the car. 200 miles ___________ too far to drive in one day. 350 euros _______ like a good price to me for a new Ipad 500000 euros in small denomination notes _______lying under the sofa.

35. 1.Most of the staff ___________________ ________________________________ 2.Two hours of typing on this report _____ _________________________________ 3.None of the winners ________________ _________________________________ 4.A serious problem in our garden ______ wasps.

36. Most of the staff were from Hong Kong/ Most of the staff at Prop Store are collectors themselves. Two hours of typing on this report was a timewaster none of the winners was/were present to accept their awards A serious problem in our garden is wasps

37. Focus on the subject-verb agreement in these sentences. Are the sentences correct?

38. 1. Either the computer terminals or the printer are not working. 2. Neither the factory workers nor the trade union representative have agreed to the pay cut. 3. There are a vending machine and two telephones in the common room. 4. The CEO along with the management team is expected to fly in from London. 5. She works for one of the first companies that was awarded the prestigious ‘Sustainable Business’ prize.

39. Cohesion/coherence