英语基础写作

1. When we mention two or more things or ideas of equal importance, we often use coordinate clauses（并列句）joined with a coordinating conjunction (并列连词：and, but, or, nor, yet, so, or for). This form or method is called coordination.When we express an important idea in a main clause and one or more less important ideas in subordinate clauses（从句）, we are using the method of subordination. It is clear that the choice of coordination or subordination is mainly decided by the relationship between the ideas to be expressed.

In each of the following sentences more than one fact or idea is mentioned. Let us see whether coordination is preferable to subordination or the other way round.

• This rich man went to church every Sunday, and he never donated a cent for the benefit of his neighborhood.
• This rich man went to church every Sunday, but he never donated a cent for the benefit of his neighborhood.
• Although he was rich and went to church every Sunday, he never donated a cent for the benefit of his neighborhood.

解析：
When we compare these three sentences, we feel that the second, with but, is stronger than the first, and the third may be the best one, for there the main idea is expressed in the main clause and is emphasized.

Here coordination may be better than subordination, for in a compound sentence（并列复合句）all the three ideas get equal emphasis.

• Although he went on talking as if he would never stop, no one was listening to him.
• He went on talking as if he would never stop, but no one was listening to him.
• He talked and talked, and it seemed that he would never stop, but no one was listening to him.

2. The use of conjunctive adverbs

There is one thing we should pay attention to: the use of conjunctive adverbs such as however, therefore, nevertheless, moreover and besides. As these words are not conjunctions, they are used after a conjunction or a semicolon（分号）to join clauses,for example:

• He is an eloquent speaker; however, he lacks depth.
• Neither manpower nor raw material was sufficient, and therefore the progress of the work was slower than expected.
• She is deeply interested in European art; moreover, she is fond of classical Western music.

3. The use of clauses and conjunctive adverbs

Here is a group of short sentences:

I waked up at 6:30. I thought I was late. I washed quickly. Then I went into the kitchen. I found something to eat. I finished eating in a few minutes. I took my bike and hurried out. I rode very fast along the streets. Soon I was at the school gate. But it was closed. Then I realized that it was Saturday.

When we read these short sentences, we feel that, though they describe things clearly, they are not very impressive. Here are two different versions:

I waked up at 6:30. Thinking that I would be late for school, I washed quickly, went into the kitchen, and found something to eat. Then I hurried out with my bike. I rode as fast as I could along the streets, and soon got to the school gate, but it was closed. Only then did I realize that it was Saturday.

It was already 6:30 when I waked up. Thinking that I would be late for school, I washed and ate something in a hurry, got on my bike and set out for school. On the streets I rode as fast as I could, and in no time I was at the school gate, only to find it closed. Then I remembered that it was Saturday.

In these two versions some sentences are combined by way of coordination or subordination, and the total effect may be better than that of the original passage, because they give the reader the feeling of haste（匆忙）and urgency（紧急）.

In the new versions not only clauses, but also parallel（平行的）predicate verbsand participial and infinitive phrases are used in place of sentences. This shows that coordinating and subordinating are not the only ways of combining sentences.

4. The use of phrases or single verbs and short sentences

Sometimes complete sentences may be turned into phrases or single verbs without loss in meaning.

Here is another passage made up of short sentences:

I like reading novels. They often tell me interesting and moving stories. Some stories are also instructive. They describe good and evil people. They describe the bright side and the dark side of life. They help me distinguish between right and wrong. In this way they have helped me to understand people and life. As a result, I seem to have become wiser.

Now let us try to combine some of the sentences and at the same time make important ideas prominent（突出的）:

I like reading novels because they tell interesting and moving stories. Moreover, some stories are instructive. By describing good and evil people, and the bright side and the dark side of life, such stories help me to distinguish between right and wrong, and understand people and life. Reading them has perhaps made me wiser.

This new version is perhaps more compact than the original, and its main idea (what the writer has learned from novels) is made more prominent. Two of the original short sentences are not merged with others (the third and the last one). This is because they express very important ideas, and short sentences are generally emphatic.

Short sentences are not only emphatic, but effective in describing a series of quick movements and actions（短句不仅有强调作用，在描述一系列快速发生的动作的时候也很有效）. Generally speaking, both short and long sentences should be used; using one type of sentences continuously would be monotonous.

★Task

Improve the sentences and at the same time make important ideas prominent.
1. A lifetime is short, but much can be accomplished.

2. In spite of the fact that he became a great preacher, Cotton Mather had a speech defect.

3. When most drivers apply the brakes, they are in doubt.

4. Corruption in high places became widespread; the Roman Empire was considerably weakened.

5. Archimedes took a bath, and he formulated one of the most important principles in physics.

6. Mr. Levin left the meeting early. Nobody knows why he did.

7. The examination was difficult, but she passed with a high grade.

8. My history professor has written a book; it has a bright-blue cover.

9. Darwin studied medicine and theology before deciding on science. He wrote On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. It was published in 1859.

10. A one-hour swim in the lake does not exhaust Zhang Jian. He is a good swimmer.

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