Unit 4 English Letters Unit 4 Sentence problems

Unit 4 English Letters

Unit 4 • Sentence problems (2) • Basic Knowledge of English Letters • Writing Practice

Sentence Problems (2) • Misplaced modifiers （修饰语错位） • Dangling modifiers(垂悬修饰语) 1. Sentence fragments (片段句) 2. Run-on sentence (不间断句)

Misplaced modifiers （修饰语错位） Misplaced modifiers are words that, because of awkward placement, cannot describe the words the writer intends them to describe. Generally speaking, there are five kinds of misplaced modifiers.

Types of Misplaced Modifiers: 1) Misplaced adverbs 2) Misplaced phrases 3) Misplaced clauses 4) Squinting modifiers歧义修饰语 5) Split infinitive不定式拆分

Types of Misplaced Modifiers: 1) Misplaced adverbs 2) Misplaced phrases 3) Misplaced clauses (omitted)

Types of Misplaced Modifiers 4) Squinting modifiers歧义修饰语 A squinting modifier is a word or phrase that appears to modify both the words that precede and follow it.

e. g. : (1) The monkeys attract the visitors with sheer stone faces. (Correct) The monkeys with sheer stone faces attract the visitors. (2) Tony bought an old car from a crooked dealer with a faulty transmission. (Correct) Tony bought an old car with a faulty transmission from a crooked dealer.

e. g. : (3) The rains that the crops had needed badly damaged the roads. (Correct) The rains that the crops had badly needed damaged the roads. / The rains that the crops had needed damaged the roads badly. (4) He always tries to efficiently and promptly do his work. (Correct) He always tries to do his work efficiently and promptly.

(5)she laughed as John raged with delight. (Correct) She laughed with delight as John raged. (6)He returned the lawn-mower(割草机 ) to a neighbor that was broken. (Correct) He returned the lawn-mower that was broken to a neighbor. (7)Suzy had a kitten in the house that ate birds. (Correct) In the house, Suzy had a kitten that ate birds.

Types of Misplaced Modifiers 5) Split infinitive不定式拆分 When a word, phrase, or clause comes between the sign of the infinitive, to, and a verb, the construction is called a split infinitive.

For example: • • • She used to secretly admire him. You have to really watch him. 改为： She used secretly to admire him. You really have to watch him.

Different Opinions on Split Infinitive: • Some people believe that split infinitives are grammatically incorrect and should be avoided at all costs. But there’s no real justification for their objection. People have been splitting infinitives for centuries, especially in spoken English, and avoiding a split infinitive can sound clumsy. It can also change the emphasis of what’s being said. • You really have to watch him. [i. e. ‘It’s important that you watch him’] You have to really watch him. [i. e. ‘You have to watch him very closely’]

To split or not to split? • The ‘rule’ against splitting infinitives isn’t followed as strictly today as it used to be. Nevertheless, some people do object very strongly to them. As a result, it’s safest to avoid split infinitives in formal writing, unless the alternative wording seems very clumsy or would alter the meaning of your sentence.

Ex 1: Identify and underline the misplaced modifiers and then reposition them. 1)We have an artillery shell in the basement that Father bought back from Italy. 2)The boa(蟒 ) ate live chickens to which Ann was devoted. 3)The paper he had folded neatly scattered across the room. 4) I nearly climbed to the top before I slipped and fell. 5)The man saved the little girl with a bushy, black beard. 6)She could have guessed what he was doing with some imagination.

1)In the basement we have an artillery shell that Father bought back from Italy. 2)The boa, to which Ann was devoted, ate live chickens. 3)The paper, which he had folded neatly, scattered across the room. 4) I climbed nearly to the top before I slipped and fell. 5)The man with a bushy, black beard saved the little girl. 6) With some imagination she could have guessed what he was doing.

Dangling modifiers(垂悬修饰语) It is a phrase or an elliptical clause that is illogically separated from the word it modifies. ( or: A dangling modifier is a group of words that has no grammatical connection to any element in the sentence. ) （垂悬修饰语即修饰语在句中找不到逻辑上被 修饰的对象）

Types of Dangling Modifiers: Generally speaking, there are four kinds of dangling modifiers: • 1) Dangling participial modifiers • 2) Dangling gerunds in Prepositional Phrases • 3) Dangling infinitive Modifiers • 4) Dangling Abbreviated clauses

1) Dangling participial modifiers It is very common for a sentence to begin with a participial phrase that modifies the subject of the main clause, but problems arise if the subject is a word to which the participial cannot logically apply. For example: -Flattened by the impact, Jane survey her bike. -Running down the street, my nose felt frozen. Participial elements at the end of clause can also dangle when there is nothing in the clause for them to modify. -A track suit must be worn running in the stadium. Dangling results as well when another noun comes between the participial and the word it is supposed to modify. -The apple was sitting on the dish half-eaten by the little boy.

How to correct dangling participial modifiers? 1)Rewrite the modifiers as a clause with subject of its own 2) Rewrite the main clause so that its subject is what the writer meant to modify. For example: -Flattened by the impact, Jane survey her wrecked bike. -Running down the street, my nose felt frozen. 可改为： Jane survey her wrecked bike，which was flattened by the impact. Running down the street, I felt as if my nose were frozen.

2) Dangling gerunds in Prepositional Phrases • When a gerund is used as the subject of a prepositional phrase, the whole phrase functions like a participial modifier, and the gerund demands an actor for the action it expresses. If no suitable actor is available, the gerund dangles. For example: -After hiking all day, the mountain seemed no nearer. -Before touching her toes, her muscles were already loose. -The beans seemed quite tender before starting to season them.

How to Correct? -After hiking all day, the mountain seemed no nearer. -Before touching her toes, her muscles were already loose. -The beans seemed quite tender before starting to season them. 可改为 -After we hiked all day, the mountain seemed no nearer. -Before touching her toes, she felt her muscles were already loose. -The beans seemed quite tender before we started to season them.

3) Dangling infinitive Modifiers • Used as modifiers, infinitives and infinitive phrases demand actors. If no appropriate actor is present, the infinitives or infinitives phrases dangle. For example: -To be well informed, reading widely is necessary. -To get up early, the clock was set at six. -A steady hand is needed to paint landscapes.

How to Correct? -To be well informed, reading widely is necessary. -To get up early, the clock was set at six. -A steady hand is needed to paint landscapes. 可改为： -If you want to be well-informed, reading widely is necessary. -To get up early, he set the clock at six. -We need a steady hand to paint landscapes.

4) Dangling Abbreviated clauses • In abbreviated or elliptical clauses, the subject and the verb are omitted and left to be understood by the reader. Such constructions dangle if their understood subject is not the same as the subject of the main clause. -When full of gas, he found the car rode uncomfortably. -While absorbed in reading, someone knocked at the door.

How to Correct Dangling Abbreviated causes 1) Expand the dangler back into a full clause. 2) Change the subject of the main clause so that it fit the abbreviated clause as well. -When full of gas, he found the car rode uncomfortably. -While absorbed in reading, someone knocked at the door. 可改为： -When it was full of gas, he found the car rode uncomfortably. -While absorbed in reading, he heard a knocking at the door.

Note： • Set phrases of indefinite reference and absolute construction are not dangling modifiers. The former ones are intended to modify the whole sentence, while the latter ones have subjects of their own. -To be frank, I do not think he is the right man for the job. -Generally speaking, at this age, girls are more mature than boys. -The majority approving of the project, he had to give in.

Ex 2. Identify and underline the modifiers that dangle and then revise the sentences. 1)While eating my sandwich, five mosquitoes bit me. 2) Singing, the doorbell rang. 3)Though polluted, I am still fond of the river. 4)To hull walnuts, they should be full ripe. 5)He held out his hand to the small terrier （小猎狗 ） holding the leash(皮带) behind his back. 6)The crowd stood around the acrobats（杂技演员 ） and some jugglers（玩杂耍的人 ） watching intently. 7)By sitting on the porch, the affairs of the community can be monitored. 8)Although compassionate, her selfishness could not be condoned.

The sentences can be revised as: 1)While I was eating my sandwich, five mosquitoes bit me. Or: While eating my sandwich, I was bit by five mosquitoes. 2) While singing, I heard the doorbell ring. 3)Though it is polluted, I am still fond of the river. 4)To hull walnuts, they should wait until they are full ripe.

5) Holding the leash behind his back, he held out his hand to the small terrier. 6)The crowd stood around and watch intently the acrobats and some jugglers 7)By sitting on the porch, they hope the affairs of the community can be monitored. 8) Although compassionate, he could not condone her selfishness.

Basic Knowledge of English Letters • • • Letter VS Email Types of English Letters Types of Mail Service Formats of English letter Envelope Key elements of English Letters Formats of English Letters.

Letter VS Email • Similarities and differences • Pros and cons

Letters will still play a major part in our communication, even though the technology-based communication means have become increasingly popular.

Types of English Letters By Writing Style：Formal and Informal Letters By recipients: Personal Letters & Business Letters By functions: • Letter of thanks • Letter of Apology • Letter of Invitation and its Replies • Letter of Congratulation • Letter of Commiseration • Letter of complaint and the Reply • Letter of Inquiry or Request • Letter for Admission • Cover Letter/letter of resignation

Types of Mail Service 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. By Airmail Express Delivery Registered; Recorded Urgent Confidential Personal 航空信件 快件 挂号 急件 密件 亲收

Formats of English Letter Envelope Two Main Styles • Full block (齐头式) • Indented form (缩行式)

Full Block(齐头式) (Stamp) Addresser’s address Addressee’s address 9/16/2021 School of Foreign Languages Shandong University Jinan, Shandong Province, 250100 P. R. China Prof. John Wood Department of Applied Linguistics Southern Rhode Island University Sussex Rd, RI 12901 U. S. A

Indented form (缩行式) Addresser’s address Addressee’s address 9/16/2021 School of Foreign Languages • Shandong University • Jinan, Shandong Province, 250100 • P. R. China • • Prof. John Wood • Department of Applied Linguistics • Southern Rhode Island University • Sussex Rd, RI 12901 • U. S. A (Stamp)

stamp Front Addressee’s address Back Addresser’s address Mr. Wang Kai-ming Ｃ／Ｏ Miss Wang Lin School of Business King Henry I Street Portsmouth PO 1 2 DZ UK Mr. Park Davis China National Chemicals 34 Sanyuanli Road Beijing, 100012 P. R. China

Front Back To Mr. Wang Kai-ming School of Business King Henry I Street Portsmouth PO 1 2 DZ UK stamp From Mr. Park Davis China National Chemicals 34 Sanyuanli Road Beijing, 100012 P. R. China

Notes in English Letter Envelope Writing 1. The addressee ’s name and address are put in the lower right part of the envelope. (收信人的姓名，地址写在信封的右侧、偏下部. ) 2. For the name of the addressee, you can just write the first letter. For example, Elizabeth Jane Paulsen, can be written as： E. J. Paulsen , Elizabeth Paulsen, Elizabeth J. Paulsen 41

Notes in English Letter Envelope Writing 3. Put Ｍr, Mrs, Miss or Ms before the addressee ’s full name. If the addressee has a position or title, put Chairman, Dean, Prof(Professor), Dr(Doctor), President, etc before his or her name. For example: Miss Elizabeth Jane Paulsen, Dr E. J. Paulsen, Prof Elizabeth Paulsen, or Ms Elizabeth J. Paulsen. Do not write Miss Elizabeth, Prof Elizabeth or Ms Elizabeth Jane

Notes in English Letter Envelope Writing 4. “To” can be put before the addressee’s name and “From” before the addresser’s name 5. The addresser’s name can be omitted if the mail is not a registered one. 6. If the letter is given to another by the receiver, write C/O (Care of) and the name of the person it concerns right under the receiver’s name.

Notes in English Letter Envelope Writing 7. 航空（Air Mail）”，“挂号(Registered）”， “快信（Express）”等，is put at lower right or near the stamp. “急件(Urgent)”，“密件(Confidential)”，“印 刷品(Printed matter)”，“只有照片(Photo only)”，“不可折叠(Do not fold)” is put at lower right. 9/16/2021 44

Key elements of English Letters • • Heading (full address and date of the letter ) Inside address Salutation Body Complimentary close Signature Postscript

Key elements of English Letters heading (date) Inside address salutation body Complimentary close signature

Formats of English Letters • Block Style • Indented Style • Modified Block style

A sample of Personal Letter 1. Heading信头 2. Date 日期 3. Inside address 封内地址 4. Salutation称呼 5. Body 正文 6. Complimentary close 结尾敬语 7. Signiture签名

A Sample of Business Letter 1. 信头 letter Head 参考号 Ref. No. 2. 日期 Date 3. 封内地址 Inside Address 经办人 Attention : 4. 称呼 Salutation 事由 Subject(Re: ) 5. 正文 Body 6. 结尾敬语 Complimentary Close 7. 签名 Signature 8. 附件 Enclosure 抄送 Carbon Copy

Layout of a Business Letter 1. Letterhead Generally, a letterhead will include the company logo（ 商 标 ， 标 识 ） , company's name, address, telephone number, fax number and email address, and the web address if available.

Letterhead/Heading (信头) Sample: Golden Trading Company Ltd. 34 Northern Avenue, New York, U. S. A. Tel: 1234567 Telex: 2345667 GBC Fax: 4455666

Sample: Finance Section, Class 20070321 Finance Department Shanghai Finance College Shanghai, China Jan. 5 th, 2009

Layout of a Business Letter 2. Date 02/01/03 2002年 1月3日 Chinese way 2003年 2月1日 American way 2003年 1月2日 British way To avoid confusion, it is a common practice to write months in words.

There are different ways of writing the date. The following two are recommended. September 15, 1994 (or: Sept 15, 1994) 15 September 1994 (15 Sept. 1994) (Note the Omission of the comma)

Layout of a Business Letter • 信内地址是指收信人的姓名和地址，位 于信头下方一两行处，顶格写。 3. Inside Address（信内地址） Always include the recipient's name, address and postal code. Add job title if appropriate.

The Inside Address (信内地址) Examples of the inside address: (1) To an individual in a company Mr. George F. Moore Advertising Manager Price & Patterson 234 Seventh Avenue New York 5, New York U. S. A.

The Inside Address (封内地址) Examples of the inside address: (2) To an anonymous official in the company Sales Manager Office Systems Pty Ltd 124 Oak Street Chatswood NSW 2067 Australia

The Inside Address (封内地址) Examples of the inside address: (3) To a company Messrs, Kato & Co. , Ltd 2 Nichome, Ginza Nishi Chuo--ku, Tokyo

Layout of a Business Letter 4. Salutation（称呼） If unsure to whom you should address a letter, you should use the following salutations: Dear Sir or Madam, When addressing a group of people, use one of the following salutations: Ladies and Gentlemen: Dear Sirs or Madams, Gentlemen: /Dear Sirs, (if all the readers are male) Ladies: /Dear Madams, (if all the readers are female)

Layout of a Business Letter 5. Body of a letter The body of a business letter typically has three paragraphs: · 1. introductory paragraph · 2. one or more body paragraphs 3. concluding paragraph

Layout of a Business Letter 6. Complimentary Close Yours faithfully, (Faithfully yours, ) Yours sincerely, (Yours very sincerely, ) Yours truly, ( Very truly yours, ) Capitalize only the first word in the complimentary close, and follow all phrases with a comma.

Layout of a Business Letter ELECTRONICS LTD. Harold Jones manager 7. Signature（签名） Company’s name Your signature typed signature (job title)

Other Elements：（1） Enclosure（附件） Enclosure refers to thing or things put in an envelope with a letter. It serves both as a check to the recipient of the letter that everything was actually enclosed and as a reminder to the letter writer of what was sent. The enclosure list is typed flush left（左对齐）, two spaces below the signature block. If more than one document is enclosed, list the number in parentheses （括号）. 9/16/2021 75

Examples: Sincerely yours, C. A. James Enclosures ：(7) Yours truly, C. A. James Encl. ：Application for Teacher Certification 9/16/2021 77

Very truly yours, C. A. James Enclosures : 240. 00 1. Check for ＄ 2. Registration Form 9/16/2021 78

Other Elements： （2） Copy Notation（ 抄送） • The copy notation is used for saying copy is being sent to the person(s) mentioned. If the writer wants the recipient to know of distribution of copies of the letter, type Copy to and the name of the individual(s) flush left, two lines below all other notations. The abbreviation cc (carbon copy) may also be used. • 如果本信函需要抄送他人阅览，则须注明抄送人的 名称，例如： • cc. Mr. David Schiller, Executing Manager 9/16/2021 79

Sincerely yours, C. A. James Copy to Mrs. Jones Golden Cordially, C. A. James Cc Ms. Vogel Sincerely yours, C. A. James Cc: Ms. Gates Mr. Holmes Mr. Woods 9/16/2021 List multiple recipients of copies alphabeticall y: . 80

Ex: • Write in English the address of the central campus of Shandong University. • 山东大学 • 山东省济南市山大南路 27# 邮编： 250100 • 电话：（ 86）-531 -88395114 • 传真：（86）-531 -88565167

Campuses’ Address of SDU • Central Campus • • Shandong University • 27 Shanda Nanlu, • Jinan, Shandong • P. R. China 250100 • Phone(International Office)：+86 -531 -88364853 Fax： +86 -531 -88565051 • E-mail：ipo@sdu. edu. cn

• • • Hongjialou Campus Shandong University Add: 5 Hongjialou, Jinan, P. R. China 250100 2. Baotuquan Campus Shandong University Add: 44 West Wenhua Road Jinan, Shandong P. R. China 250012 3. Qianfoshan Campus Shandong University Add: 73 Jingshi Road Jinan, Shandong P. R. China 250061