Module 5. Structural and functional grammar

Lesson 29

BASIC SENTENCE FAULTS

29.1  Introduction

The purpose of writing is to communicate facts, feelings and ideas effectively.  For the clarity of expressions, we need to write correct sentences, which conform to the conventions of written English. This lesson discusses as to how we can write effective sentences by making proper use of sentence fragments; subordination, coordination and parallelism. Verbosity, faulty predication, dangling modifiers and illogical comparisons should also be carefully avoided.

29.2  Use of Subordination

A common failing of writers is the expression of ideas of unequal importance in constructions that seem to give equal weight. Meaning can be grasped more quickly and more easily if subordinate ideas are indicated and put in subordinating constructions. A sentence should express the main thought in a principal clause. Less important thoughts should be expressed in subordinate clauses.

ü This machine has been imported from Japan and it is easy to operate.

ü This machine, which has been imported from Japan, is easy to operate.

29.3  Use of the Verb ‘BE’

The verb ‘be’ is often a cause of stylistic problems. Eight basic forms of verb ‘be’ are: am, are, is, was, were, be, being, been.

Avoid verb ‘be’ followed by adjectives or nouns that can be turned into strong, economical verbs.

e.g.    The new policy is violative of the Civil Right Act.

          The new policy violates the Civil Right Act.

          His new skateboard was the cause of an accident.

          His new skateboard caused an accident.

29.4  Faulty Parallelism

In written English, word and phrases joined by ‘and’ are normally similar both in form and its meaning. Violations of this convention are called “Faulty Parallelism”

o My hobbies are hunting, fishing and to write.

o My hobbies are hunting, fishing and writing.

He would like a career in publishing or as a teacher.

o He would like a career in publishing or in teaching.

Nobody wants wealth without being happy.

o Nobody wants wealth without happiness.His success was generally attributed to his talent, integrity and to his insatiable appetite for work.

o His success was generally attributed to his talent, integrity and insatiable appetite for work.

29.5  Dangling Modifiers

As a rule, an infinitive or a participle at the beginning of a sentence should modify the subject of the sentence.  If it has nothing to modify either logically or grammatically in the sentence, it is called a ‘dangling modifier’ and the sentence is grammatically incorrect.

In other words, a dangling modifier is one that that has nothing to modify because what it ought to modify has not been clearly stated in its sentence. For example:

o Driving through the mountains, two lions were seen.

o Driving through the mountains, we saw two lions.

o Looking through the telescope, clusters of stars were seen.

o Looking through the telescope, I saw clusters of stars.

29.5.1  Avoid dangling participial phrases

A participle is a verb form used as an adjective to modify a noun or pronoun. A participial phrase consists of a participle or object.

DANGLING	Taking the right turn, the market was closed. [There is nothing in the sentence that can be sensibly be taking the right turn A revision must identify some person.]
REVISED	Taking the right turn, we found the market closed. When we took the right turn, the market was closed.
DANGLING	Being made of glass, Mohan handled the tabletop carefully.
REVISED	Because the tabletop was made of glass, Mohan handled it carefully. [The Participial phrase is expanded into a subordinate clause.]

29.5.2  Avoid dangling phrases containing gerunds

A gerund is an – ing form of a verb used as a noun. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund, its object and any modifiers of the gerund or object. In typical dangling phrases containing gerunds, the gerund or gerund phrase serves as the object of a preposition.

DANGLING	Before going to the market, our work was done. [Who did it?]
REVISED	Before going to the market, we did our work.

29.5.3  Avoid dangling infinitive phrase

An infinitive consists of the infinitive marker to follow by the plain form of the verb. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive, its object and any modifiers of the infinitive or object.

DANGLING	To write properly, a cardboard must be used. [Who will use the cardboard?]
REVISED	To write properly, you must use a good cardboard.
DANGLING	To write effectively, practice is necessary.
REVISED	To write effectively, you [or one] must practice.

29.5.4  Avoid dangling elliptical clauses

An elliptical clause is one in which the subject or verb is implied or understood rather than stated. The clause dangles if its implied subject is not the same as the subject of the main clause. Eliminate a dangling elliptical clause by (1) making the dangling clause agree with the subject of the main clause or (2) supplying the omitted subject or verb.

DANGLING   When a small girl, my grandfather gave me a scarf.

REVISED       When a small girl, I was given a scarf by my grandfather. [The subject of the main clause agrees with the implied subject of the elliptical clause.]

When I was a small girl, my grandfather gave me a scarf. [The omitted subject and verb are supplied in the elliptical clause.]

DANGLING         While going to Delhi, my car overturned.

REVISED            While going to Delhi, we overturned the car. [The subject of the main clause agrees with the implied subject of the elliptical clause.]

While we were going to Delhi, the car overturned [or we overturned the car]. [The elliptical clause is expanded into a subordinate clause.

29.6  Faulty Predication

The subject of a sentence is whatever answers the question ‘who’ or ‘what’ before the verb. The ‘predicate’ includes the verb along with any word that complete or modify its meaning. When a mismatch of meaning occurs between a subject and a predicate, the result is called “Faulty Predication”. e.g.

o Grammar is where I have most of my writing problems. (the predicate treats grammar as if it were a place)

o I have most of my writing problems in Grammar.

o College athletics is a controversy that will not be easily resolved.

o College athletics is a controversial subject.

29.7  Incomplete And Illogical Comparisons

A comparison expresses a relation between two things. To make a comparison complete and logical, include both items being compared, include all words necessary to make the relationship clear, and be sure that the items are in fact comparable.

a]  void incomplete comparisons

INCOMPLETE	Our new car gets better mileage. (Better than what?)
REVISED	Our new car gets better mileage better than our old one did.

b]  Avoid ambiguous comparisons

AMBIGUOUS	I like her more than Jane. (More than Jane likes her? More than You like Jane?)
REVISED	I like her more than I like Jane I like her more than Jane does.

c]  Avoid illogical comparisons

ILLOGICAL	A doctor’s income is greater than a teacher.  (The sentence compares an income to a teacher.)
REVISED	A doctor’s income is greater than a teacher’s. A doctor’s income is greater than that of a teacher.

d]     Avoid grammatically incomplete comparisons

Comparisons using expressions as good as, as strong as and the like always require the second as.

INCOMPLETE	He is as good, if not better than, Ram.
REVISED	He is as good as, if not better than, Ram.

In comparisons of items in the same class of things, use other or any other. In comparisons of items in different classes, use any.

INCORRECT	Calcutta is bigger than any city in India.
REVISED	Calcutta is bigger than any other city in India.
	Calcutta is bigger than any city in Pakistan.