UNIT 6
New Zealand: Last Stop
By Kaiwhakahaere- Public Domain
Clauses
What is a clause? A clause is a part of a sentence.
There are two main types:
• independent (main clauses),
•
dependent (subordinate clauses).
Independent Clauses
An independent clause is a complete sentence; it contains a
subject and verb and expresses a complete thought in both
context and meaning. For example: Maria failed her exam
Independent clauses can be joined by a coordinating
conjunction to form complex or compound sentences. The
seven coordinating conjunctions used as connecting words at
the beginning of an independent clause are: and, but, for, or,
nor, so, and yet. When a coordinating conjunction connects
two independent clauses, it is often (but not always)
accompanied by a comma.
Subordinate Clauses
A subordinate clause is a group of words that has its own
subject and predicate but cannot stand alone as a simple sentence
because it does not express a complete thought. It must be
included in or connected to an independent clause to form a
complex sentence. Dependent clauses often begin with a a
subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun that makes the
clause unable to stand alone.
A subordinating conjunction, also called a subordinator (a word
like when, because, if, and although) joins a subordinate clause to
a main verb.
These clauses can also be placed before the main clause without
changing the meaning. When the subordinate clause introduces
the sentence, it is set off with a comma.
Subordinate clauses can show: time, contrast, reason, purpose,
comparison, condition, place and result
Work and Business
Applying for a job can be a difficult experience for many adults
especially those who have limited English. Here you can learn
some of the most important words and expressions related to
the world of work.
Here you have a list of some of the most important words related
to work:
wages - skills - qualifications - career - overtime - strike shift work - employment - unemployment – unemployed salary – skilled worker – unskilled worker – trade union –
apply for – job/work – dismissal – chairman – manager –
director – board of directors – promotion – be on the dole –
employment agency – retirement – demonstration –
labour market
Easily confused words
English can be confusing. A lot of words are similar but with
different meanings. It is almost impossible to avoid making
mistakes in English, but if you can get your head around these
explanations, you might be able to avoid making these ones.
For example, let's have a look at the words: degree and career.
Which one is correct if we want to talk about someone who has
finished their university studies and has obtained a title? We have
to use the word: DEGREE: He has a degree in psychology / a
psychology degree.
CAREER has a different meaning: it refers to our professional life,
not what we study: He sought a career as a lawyer.
Some other pairs are: Advice/Advise - Alone/Lonely – Beside/Besides –
Complement/Compliment – Further/Farther – Hard/Hardly – Lie/Lay –
Remember/Remind – Trip/Journey/Voyage/Travel – Win/Earn
A for and against composition
A for and against composition looks at both sides of an argument and
compares and contrasts them. It states the advantages and
disadvantages of this specific argument and, usually at the end, presents
the writer's own opinion about it.
A successful for and against composition should have:
An opening paragraph a short introduction to the general topic.
Paragraph 2 presents the advantages or gives arguments for the topic.
Paragraph 3 presents the disadvantages or gives arguments against the
topic.
Final paragraph a short conclusion with your opinion.