Writing Material For Advanced Level

The author Mr Chan Sotheavuth, the lecturer of English at Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL), is obsessed by the deep affection and excitement from exploring and discovering the essence and quality of good writing style. He, Sotheavuth myself, holds strong belief that good word choices and well-developed sentences written in uniquely expressive style serve the best purpose for a good writing. The author does not pretend that he knows best; instead the material produced should shed some lights for academic writing students- more or less. As a saying, he likes best, goes “better learn something than nothing,” this material, therefore, needs more modification and editions to generate highly wanted satisfaction for students, teachers and academics alike.

Contact him:
- Phone Number: 011 998760
- Email Address: chansotheavuth@gmail.com


Below are the essays and original sentences with sample sentences possible with close meaning of ideas from students, all of which the author definitely have fine appreciations for their quality of good word choices and uniquely expressive styles.

Enjoy!


Topic: How do movies or television influence people's behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer. (Erin Billy of www.TestMagic.com)

Hesitating I enter my house, the light outside is dimming and the shadows make everything appear unfamiliar. I know that my husband has not returned from work yet, simply because his car is not in the garage. I am alone. I carefully check all the rooms, almost expecting something to happen suddenly. I hold my bag in my hand as if it were a weapon. After the whole house has been declared "clear," I start to breathe normally again and a smile appears on my face as I realize, once again, how a simple movie seen at the cinema a week earlier can modify my actions.

Sometimes I wonder if I should watch TV, with all its shows that make me wonder whether I exercise enough, whether I am slim enough, or whether I treat my pets with the care they deserve: am I really concerned about their mental health? Not to mention the hundreds of commercials that try to make me believe I need a water-purifier to remain alive since the water I am currently drinking is heavily polluted! And countless are the times when I have heard people talking by quotations learned from movies. We need to watch shows and films to know what to say, how to be, how to act. We are so addicted to all this that it almost seems like we cannot think on our own.

I cannot help thinking about what happened to me some days ago, an example that clearly shows what kind of power TV has over people. My husband and I were in a restaurant when I heard my young neighbor pronouncing violent words in a low angry voice. Surprised, I turned to better understand the situation and I saw that he was holding a fake military device and was acting as if he were filming a war movie. I am sure that if I had been a little be more updated about this type of movie, I would have recognized what he was saying as a quotation. Now, I wonder if he uses such a language also with his friends and with his parents, if he is aggressive, and if so, whether his attitude has really nothing to do with what he watches on TV.

That same evening on the way home I saw two cars stopped one next to the other at a traffic light and as soon as the light turned green they started racing, in the middle of town. In this case not even a major knowledge of movies and TV programs would have helped me: there are just too many of them on the market showing the exact same thing: people racing with cars.

I am sure that everybody, if asked, could easily list many other examples of how TV and movies can modify our behavior and therefore our life but, I wonder, if we will always be able to draw the line between a TV show and real life, between what they make us think we want and what instead we really need and are and believe.

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Topic: When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success." Do you agree or disagree with the quotation above? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position. (Erin Billy of www.TestMagic.com)

There is a humorous saying in English – “The grass is always greener on the other side of the
valley”. The saying is used ironically to point out that there is a temptation in us all to insist that others are more fortunate than we are. This is nowhere more true than on the question of luck and hard work. When faced with the “bad times”, we often find comfort in the idea that we are special in our degree of misfortune. I feel that such an attitude is negative, and that it can bring only further misfortune.

Many famously successful people have begun from small origins. Mao was the son of a (modestly prosperous) peasant; the explorer Captain Cook was so poor that, as a child, he had to work by day and study by night; many of the affluent Americans of today are the children of the poor immigrants of yesterday. Beethoven, it should be remembered, became deaf before the end of his career. There are many, many more people who have also made genuine, though Jess spectacular, successes against the odds.

Within his own terms, a person who is born into poverty in India is a great success if he manages to own a house in later life. Poverty cannot be reduced by merely complaining and blaming others: no matter how guilty other people are, each individual must reach out to success for himself. Indeed, some economists believe that the world operates by what they call “the rule of the jungle”. They believe that in economics a person a1ways attempts to gain profit from his neighbor: that given the chance the poor man would quickly make himself rich by trading to his own advantage.

Also, it is presumptuous to judge another according to his or her apparent fortune. No man can ever truly understand the sufferings of his neighbor. A man who appears comfortably rich may have suffered elsewhere in his life - through the death of a loved one, for example. Retired businessmen have often worked long hours in their youth. Surely, it must be wiser to respect achievement than to deny that anyone has achieved good in the world.

To rely on notions of luck - to believe that life is a kind of lottery - is an attempt to escape reality. Paradoxically, the only time a person can claim that luck is more important than work is when he reflects on his own success. Because of that modesty, the great man then becomes even greater.

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1. Idea: To attract more investment from China, Malaysia plans to lift up the barriers posed by entry rules for Chinese labor.
Key Words: attract, investment, lift up, entry rules
Sample Sentence(s) Possible With Close Meaning of Idea From Students:
- Aiming to attract more investment from China, Malaysia is taking steps to make some necessary changes, specifically, for its entry rules for China labor, a source familiar with the matter said Thursday.
- Malaysia, in its attempt to make itself more open and attractive to investment from China, plans to relax entry rules for China labor.

Original Sentence (Cambodia Daily, Saturday Page 12)
Malaysia plans to ease entry rules for Chinese labor in a bid to woo more investment from the country, a source familiar with the matter said Thursday.


2. Idea: Malaysian government is expecting that offering one of these various incentives will spur more friendly- business atmosphere between the two countries.
Key Words: incentive, spur, business atmosphere
Sample Sentence(s) Possible With Close Meaning of Idea From Students:
- As China has become a more and more important source of foreign investment, Malaysian government hopes that providing this incentive among the others will allow the government to promote friendlier-business atmosphere with China and benefit from this economy-booming country, said the source.

Original Sentence (Cambodia Daily, Page 12)
“It is one of various incentives the government hopes will allow it to reach out and tap into China as an increasingly important source of foreign investment,” the source said.

3. Idea: Places to sell during renovation and position of stands available inside the market are fundamental concerns of vendors and people working on the project saw them as their challenges.
Key Words: places to sell, renovation, position of stands,
concern of vendors, challenges, project
Sample Sentence(s) Possible With Close Meaning of Idea From Students:
- The program officer at Agence de Development Francaise, Herve Conan said that it is critically important to assure a workable space for vendors during renovation and position inside the new stands once the market is complete and these are the two main challenges that people carrying out the project have to find ways to solve.

Original Sentence (Cambodia Daily Page 12)
Herve Conan, program officer at Agence de Development Francaise, said that that assuring a functioning working space for all the vendors during the renovation as well as assuring their position inside the new stands once they are finished are just two of the major challenges (that) those working on the project have to deal with.

4. Idea: Successful operation of renovation project is accompanied by challenges.
Key Words: successful operation, renovation project, accompany(v),
challenge
Sample Sentence(s) Possible With Close Meaning of Idea From Students:
- Challenges always exist in big renovation project.
- In operating big renovation project, one must prepare to face challenges and overcome them.

Original Sentence (Cambodia Daily Page 12)
As with large-scale renovation project, successful operations do not come without their challenges.

5. Idea: Children are not always obedient and do not often follow their parents’ advice.
Key Words: obedient, follow, advice
Sample Sentence(s) Possible With Close Meaning of Idea From Students:
- In many cultures, many adolescents are believed to be stubborn and act against their parents’ advice.
- In many cultures, parents may be extremely upset by their ill-behaved adolescents.

Original Sentence
Adolescents are notoriously rebellious in many cultures and may automatically reject any advice from their parents.



6. Idea: Children tend to do the opposite when their parents force them to do something.
Key Words: tend, do the opposite, force
Sample Sentence(s) Possible With Close Meaning of Idea From Students:
- When my parents forced me to get married to a man, for instance, I purposely did the opposite way.
- My first marriage, for instance, was the best example to explain the consequence when my parents thought they could make me do what they wanted.

Original Sentence
My first marriage, for instance, was solely a matter of doing the opposite when my parents tried to intrude in offering their advice.

7. Idea: Parents seem to be narrow-minded and out- of- date with current youth’s trends and fashions.
Key Words: narrow-minded, out-of-date, trends, fashions
Sample Sentence(s) Possible With Close Meaning of Idea From Students:
- Our parents cannot be easily convinced in regard to the current youth’s trends and fashions.
- Many parents, when getting older, are very conservative and seemingly do not give much appreciation to modern trends and fashions.

Original Sentence
Once our parents get older, they become more conservative and cannot always be objective in regard to modern trends and fashions.




8. Idea: It is a big exaggeration that damage is merely caused by just a factor: TV.
Key Words: exaggeration, damage, merely
Sample Sentence(s) Possible With Close Meaning of Idea From Students:
- Some people believe that television has destroyed communication among friends and family. I think this is an exaggeration.
- Other more powerful social factors rather than TV should be attributed for damage.

Original Sentence
I believe that the damage attributed to television is greatly exaggerated and that such damage is most likely attributable to other more powerful social factors.

9. Idea: Many Americans work hard from nothing before holding a high status of today.
Key Words: work hard, hold, high status
Sample Sentence(s) Possible With Close Meaning of Idea From Students:
- Many famously successful people have begun from small origins.
- Many affluent Americans of today started their business from ground zero.

Original Sentence
Many of the affluent Americans of today are the children of the poor immigrants of yesterday

10. Idea: Complaining, blaming others and depending on luck are proved to be no use for poverty reduction.
Key Words: complaining, blaming, luck, poverty reduction
Sample Sentence(s) Possible With Close Meaning of Idea From Students:
- To rely on notions of luck - to believe that life is a kind of lottery - is an attempt to escape from reality and this cannot resolve the issue of poverty reduction.
- Ignoring your own duties and responsibilities for own enrichment and blaming others for not doing enough are poor excuses of failing to rescue oneself out of poverty.


Original Sentence
Poverty cannot be reduced by merely complaining and blaming others: no matter how guilty other people are, each individual must reach out to success for himself.
(Original sentences “5-10” are provided by Erin Billy of www.TestMagic.com)

Writing Material

Writing Material

1 Basic rules of clauses
PART ONE
There are two main types of clauses: One is dependent clause (or subordinate clause) and the other is called independent clause (or main clause). The BASIC pattern of a clause is: Subject + Verb
Note: These are also clauses, but they are in special patterns.
For example:
- how to drive
- what to say
- where to go etc...
→ How to identify whether a clause is a dependent clause (DC) or independent clause (IC)?
Dependent clause → the meaning is incomplete → cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Independent clause → the meaning is complete → can stand alone as a sentence
Note: To decide whether the meaning is complete (it makes sense/ can be understood), simply just translate the whole sentence. On the other hand, level of comprehension/ understanding as well as ability to recognizing the forms and patterns of grammar points play a fundamental role.
Also a SENTENCE should consist of: Subject + Verb + Object and most importantly its meaning should be understood.
Exercise
Decide if the following clauses are Dependent Clauses or Independent Clauses.
Example
0. Although she has a huge amount of money. DC (This statement cannot be a sentence. It starts with one of the SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (although, because, if, after, before, when, while, as soon as, ...), so this clause is called a dependent clause or technically it is called ADVERBIAL CLAUSE.)
1. It is raining outside.
2. If you wish to have a bright future.
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3. What we want to do. DC (This statement cannot be a sentence. It does not have the main verb. The verb "want" is the verb of the clause (dependent clause). After all, because its meaning is not understood, it is called a DC or technically NOUN CLAUSE.)
4. When to have a party.
5. Libraries provide students with a lot of advantages.
6. The woman whose bag is very expensive. DC (This statement cannot be a sentence. The "woman" is the main SUBJECT, but what is the main verb? Do not get confused. The verb "is" stands after the word "whose", so it is the verb of the clause (dependent clause). "Whose bag is very expensive" is called ADJECTIVE CLAUSE.)
7. The man who was drunk.
8. Media plays a very important role in all society.
(check answers for the exercise below)
PART TWO
Dependent Clauses can be sub-divided into three main types of clauses: Noun Clause, Adjective Clause and Adverbial Clause. In this part, we’re going to study about adverbial clause.
An adverbial clause starts with one of the SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS:
after before than when which although
even though though whenever while as
how unless where who as if
if until wherever whom as soon as
since (because) what whether because so that
Note: An adverbial clause, one of dependent clauses, cannot stand alone as a sentence. Thus, THIS RULE OF CLAUSE should be applied/used:
Adverbial Clause + , + Independent Clause (main clause)
Or
Main Clause + Adverbial Clause (adverbial clause after the main clause-without comma)
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Example:
0. If I want to relax. Wrong (It cannot stand alone as a sentence since it is an adverbial clause. Technically, we call it "Fragment". Also, remember that when you want to count sentences, count "full stop/period". This statement ends with a full stop, but it is wrong because it is a dependent clause or adverbial clause and cannot stand alone as a sentence.)
1. I go to the gym or listen to the music if I want to relax. Correct (adverbial clause appears after the main clause, so there is no comma used)
2. If one hopes to have success in life, one should learn how to manage one’s time, put as much effort in the work as possible and most importantly make both short-term and long-term plans. (It is used with comma because the adverbial clause stands before the main clause.)
3. Whatever you do, do not forget this saying: Work hard and expect success.
Exercise
Underline the ADVERBIAL CLAUSE (it should begin with one of the SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS) and decide whether the USE OF ADVERBIAL CLAUSES here correct or incorrect. Try to explain why.
1. When the frog is dense.
2. Lee appeared confident as she took her exam.
3. The movie ended sooner than we expected.
4. Driving a car if you do not have a license is illegal.
5. so that we could watch the movie again.
6. I went to the library since I needed to do the research.
7. To discuss the problems whenever they are arise is a good policy.
8. Because I want to win a scholarship I try to study hard. (incorrect because a comma should be used.)
(check answers for the exercise below)
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Part Three
Adverbial clauses can be reduced/shortened.
For example:
If feeling cold, you should not drink water with ice. (This adverbial clause is in reduced form. The full form is: If you are feeling cold.)
Note: Adverbial clause can be reduced only when the subject of the adverbial clause and subject in the main clause are the same. TO REDUCE THE ADVERBIAL CLAUSE:
-study about whether the subject of the adverbial clause and the subject in the main clause are the same or not. IF THEY ARE DIFFERENT, the adverbial clause CANNOT BE REDUCED.
-If the two subjects are the same, then omit/cross out the subject of the adverbial clause and all forms of "be" and change the verb to "base form" of the verb + ing as shown in the example above. However, if the adverbial clause is in passive form "be+V3 (gone, risen, done, ...)", do the same: omit the subject and all forms of be and V3 should be left as shown in e.g1.
E.g1: After you were burned, you can put ice or cool cream on the wounded skin.
(The subject in the adverbial clause is "you" and the subject in the main clause is also "you". Then the adverbial clause can be reduced.)
REDUCED ADVERBIAL CLAUSE:
After burned, you can put ice or cool cream on the wounded skin.
E.g2: I witnessed a terrible accident as walking along the street the other day. (should be: as I was walking.... )
E.g3: Mark looks gloomy whenever that topic is discussed. (This adverbial clause cannot be reduced because the subject of the adverbial clause "that topic" is not the same to the subject in the main clause "Mark".)
E.g4: Susan planned to remain in the country until her visa expired. (cannot be reduced.)
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Exercise
Reduce/shorten these adverbial clauses if possible. If the adverbial clause cannot be reduced, write cannot be reduced.
1. When astronauts are orbiting the Earth, they don’t feel the force of gravity.
2. Although it had been damaged, the machine was still operational.
3. Although he was nervous, he gave a wonderful speech.
4. Because the speaker was sick, the program was canceled.
5. Before he left the country, he bought some traveler’s checks.
(check answers for the exercise below)
Part Four
Independent Clause + , + Coordinating Conjunctions (Fansboy) + Independent Clause
When you notice one of the fansboy( For, And, Nor, So, But, Or, Yet) is used, this RULE of clause has to be applied/used.
For Example:
0. ____________ think of metallurgy as a modern field of science, but it is actually one of the oldest.
A. Although many people
B. Many people
C. Many people who
D. In spite of many people
In this question, we see that the word "but" is used in another clause, so the clause with the blank should be Independent Clause. Option "A" is wrong because it starts with "Although"
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meaning that the clause with "although" is a dependent clause (See part 2, page 2). As well, in option "C", no main verb of the first clause presents. Also, in option "D", in spite of should plus noun. The best answer is option "B".
1. ____________eight million members of shooting and hunting associations, a clear majority of those polled opposed over-the-counter sales of handguns.
A. More than
B. Because more than
C. There were more than
D. Of the more than
In this question, the best answer should be "D". Option A is not in the right form. "B" starts with "Because", so plus clause. However, there is no verb of the clause. "C" looks like a clause, but the problem "COMMA SPLICE-the use of two independent clauses in a sentence without coordinating conjunctions" will arise. "D-of the more than" is equal to "AMONG".
2. Study ____________.
A. and you will pass the test B. or else you will pass the test
C. you will pass the test D. will you pass the test
In this question, options "C" and "D" are definitely incorrect because there is no such form. "B" is correct in form, but the meaning does not fit at all. So the best answer is "A".
(Study for more detail about "Imperative Form").
Exercise
Choose the best answer.
1 ____________ and you will succeed.
A. Work hard B. Working hard
C. If you work hard D. If only you work hard
2. Helium is not inflammable, ____________ therefore safer than hydrogen.
A. that is B. and is
C. but is D. and it
3. ____________ flying, a bat emits a rapid series of ultrasonic signals, which bounce off any object in its path.
A. When it B. It is
C. When it is D. When is
4. ____________ pipelines are expensive to build, they are relatively cheap to operate and maintain.
A. Because B. That
C. Although D. Despite
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5. ____________, and they are separated from one another by vast distances.
A. Being millions of galaxies B. Are millions of galaxies
C. Of the millions of galaxies D. There are millions of galaxies
(check answers for the exercise below)
Part Five
NOUN CLAUSE: As said on page 2, Noun Clause is one type of dependent clauses. To remember Noun Clause, we have to remember its THREE main FUNCTIONS.
1. Noun Clause can function as SUBJECT OF A SENTENCE, so it stands before the main verb.
E.g1.:
What he invented was very remarkable.
↓ ↓
Noun Cl. as Subject main verb
In this example, the CLAUSE MARKER is "what" and SUBJECT OF THE CLAUSE is "he", whereas "invented" is the VERB OF THE CLAUSE. The clause markers of Noun Clause can be: what, when, where, that, why, whether, how. These are the common clause markers in Noun Clause.
E.g2.: What to do in the party has not been decided yet.
↓ ↓
Noun Cl. as Subject Main Verb
In this example, "what to do in the party" is the subject of the sentence, whereas the main verb is "has not been decided".
E.g3.: What I am going to do will lead me to get success in life.
↓ ↓
Noun Cl. as Subject Main Verb
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2. Noun Clause can FUNCTION as OBJECT OF THE VERB, so it stands after the verb.
E.g1.: I can understand what you mean.
↓ ↓
Main Verb Noun Cl. as Object of the verb
In this example, "I" is the main subject and "understand" is the main verb, whereas "what you mean" is the Noun Clause that functions as Object of the verb.
E.g2.: I don’t know why they want to punish me.
↓ ↓
Main Verb Noun Cl. as Object of the verb
In this example, "I" is the main subject and "know" is the main verb, whereas "why" is the clause marker and "they" is the subject of the clause, and "want to punish" is the verb of the clause. After all, "why they want to punish me" is called Noun Clause as Object of the Verb.
E.g3.: I don’t want to believe why she did like that.
↓ ↓
Main Verb Noun Cl. as Object of the verb
3. Noun Clause can FUNCTION as OBJECT OF PREPOSITION, so it stands after preposition.
E.g1.: I am looking for what I want.
↓ ↓
Prep. Noun Clause as Object of Preposition
E.g2.: She thinks about what she is going to do with her classmates.
↓ ↓
Prep. Noun Clause as Object of Preposition
E.g3.: Art critics do not agree on what qualities make a painting.
↓ ↓
Prep. Noun Clause as Object of Prep.
Exercise
Choose the best answer.
1. ____________ developed so rapidly in Alabama primarily because of its rich natural resources.
A. That heavy industry B. Heavy industry
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C. Heavy industry that was D. Whey heavy industry
2. In order to grow vegetable properly, gardeners must know ____________.
A. what the requirement for each vegetable are
B. that the requirements for each vegetable
C. what are each vegetable’s requirements
D. that is required by each vegetable
3. When ____________ is not known.
A. was the wheel invented
B. the invention of the wheel
C. inventing the wheel
D. the wheel was invented
4. ____________ does not circle around the earth was proven by Galileo.
A. Since the rest of the universe
B. As the rest of the universe
C. The rest of the universe
D. That the rest of the universe
5. Mr. Duncan does not know ____________ the lawn mower after they had finished using it.
A. where did they put
B. where they did put
C. where they put
D. where to put
6. The people at the party were worried about Janet because no one was aware ____________ she had gone.
A. where that
B. of where
C. of the place where
D. the place
7. ____________ the right side of a person’s brain is dominant, that person is left-handed.
A. That
B. If
C. Which
D. For
(check answers for the exercise below)
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Part Six
Adjective Clause/Relative Clause: Basically, an adjective clause— also called relative clause stands after the noun it modifies (modify= describe, provide more information or tell you more about that thing/person).
Example:
The painting which Ms. Wallace bought was very expensive. ("which Ms. Wallac bought" is the adjective clause. It modifies the painting, which is NOUN.)
Notice from the example that the adjective clause begins, basically, with one of the ADJECTIVE CLAUSE MARKERS that is "which". The adjective clause markers can be:
- who : used with people
- whom : used with people as object of the "verb" or "preposition". It means that it should come after the verb or preposition.
- whose : used to show possession of people or things
- which : used to modify things
- that : things or people
- where : place
- when : time
Possible patterns of Adjective Clauses:
1. After the noun + Clause Marker + Subject + Verb
E.g: The air that we breathe should be fresh. (The main subject is "the air" and the main verb is "should be", whereas "that" is the clause marker; "we" is the subject of the clause and "breathe" is the verb of the clause. After all, "that we breathe" stands after and modifies "the air", so it is called adjective clause.)
2. After the noun + Clause Marker + Verb
E.g: The person who is sitting next to me likes to talk to everyone. (The main subject is "the person" and the main verb is "like", whereas "who" is the clause marker and "is sitting" is the verb of clause. After all, "who is sitting next to me" stands after and modifies "the person", so it is called adjective clause.)
3. Reduced Adjective Clause form (active form)
E.g1: The man running for help had had accident.
(The main subject is "the man" and the main verb is "had had", whereas "running for help" tells you more about the man "modify" and it stands after "the man", so it is called
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adjective clause. This ADJECTIVE CLAUSE is in REDUCED FORM. The full form should be: The man who was running for help had had accident.)
Note: To reduce adjective clause in active form, do:
a. omit clause marker
b. omit all forms of "be"
c. change the verb of clause to " base form + ing"
E.g2: The thieves robbing the motor on the street were caught immediately by police.
(The main subject is "the thieves" and the main verb is "were caught", whereas "robbing the motor on the street" is the reduced adjective clause. The full form should be: The thieves who were robbing the motor on the street were caught immediately by police.)
E.g3: The students doing self-study so far will soon become outstanding ones.
("doing self-study so far" is the reduced adjective clause. Its full form should be: The students who have been doing self-study so far will soon become outstanding ones.)
4. Reduce Adjective Clause form (passive form: Be+V3)
E.g1: The flowers sent to her everyday are from a very rich man.
("sent to her everyday" is the REDUCED ADJECTIVE CLAUSE IN PASSIVE FORM. Its full form should be: The flowers which are sent to her everyday are from a very rich man.)
Note: To reduce adjective clause in passive form, do:
a. omit clause marker
b. omit all form of "be"
c. V3 (gone, stolen, written ...etc) should be left
E.g2: The rice, eaten everyday, comes from the hard work of farmers.
("eaten everyday" is the reduced adjective clause in passive form. Its full form should be: The rice, which is eaten everyday, comes from the hard work of farmers.)
E.g3: The rabbit, _________ in a trap, was unable to move.
A. catch
B. catching
C. caught
D. to catch
(The answer should be "C". It is the reduced adjective clause "caught in a trap". Its full form should be: The rabbit, which had been caught/was caught in a trap, was unable to move.)
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Note: Adjective Clauses CAN BE REDUCED when they are in the form of: Clause marker + Verb.
E.g1: The police whose car you crashed was sent to a hospital. (This adjective clause cannot be reduced.)
E.g2: The subject in which I am interested is history. (This adjective clause cannot be reduced. Preposition "in" appears before the clause marker because we don’t leave prep. at the end of the clause.)
5. Appositive form (NOUN FORM that modifies NOUN.)
E.g1: Mr. Smith, the shoplifter, was arrested last night at the shop.
("the shoplifter" stands after and modifies Mr. Smith, so it is called "appositive". Notice as well that "the shoplifter" is between two commas because it modifies "the name" or its information is considered unimportant. This rule applies the same to other forms of adjective clauses.)
E.g2: Computers, technology creativity, play vital roles in people’s daily lives.
("technology creativity" stands after and modifies computers, so it is called "appositive.)
E.g3: Socrates, one of the greatest philosophers in the world, goes through the hardships in his life.
("one of the greatest philosophers in the world" stands after and modifies "Socrates", so it is called "appositive".)
Exercise
Choose the best answer. (See the answers below)
E.g1: The answer _________ is incorrect.
A. giving to that question
B. give to that question
C. given to that question
D. gave to that question
(The answer should be "C". The "answer" is the main subject and the main verb is "is". "Given to that question" is called reduced adjective clause in passive form.)
E.g2: Willa Catcher, _________ a prominent American writer, grew up in Nebraska during the early farming years.
A. who became
B. became
C. she became
D. it is she who became
(The answer should be "A". The main subject is "Willa Catcher" and the main verb is "grew up". "A" is correct because it is in the right form of ADJECTIVE CLAUSE. Notice as well the adjective clause comes between two commas because it modifies the "name".)
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E.g3: The man _________ the car was drunk.
A. drove B. driving C. drive D. driven
("the man" is the main subject and "was" is the main verb. So we don’t need more subject or verb. So "A" and "C" are definitely incorrect. The answer should be "B". "Driving the car" is the adjective clause in reduced form. Its full form should be: The man who was driving the car was drunk.)
1. Mango trees, _________ densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers, grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet.
A. whose
B. which are
C. are when
D. which
2. Some snakes lay eggs, but others _________ birth to live offspring.
A. give
B. giving
C. they give
D. to have given
3. Algonkian-speaking Native Americans greeted the Pilgrims _________ settled on the eastern shores of what is now New England.
A. to whom
B. of which
C. who
D. which
4. During the course of its growth, a frog undergoes a true metamorphosis _________ with a fishlike larval stage.
A. begin
B. began
C. beginning
D. is begun
5. Portland Maine is _________ the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow spent his early years.
A. where
B. it where
C. where is
D. which is where
6. She knew the reason _________ I refused the job.
A. which
B. for which
C. in which
D. where
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7. Whenever the weather is nice, I _________ to work.
A. walking
B. walk
C. to walking
D. walked
8. _________ break up rock, slowly wearing it away over millions of years.
A. Ice, wind, and running water which
B. Ice, wind, and running water
C. If ice, wind, and running water
D. When ice, wind, and running water
9. Of all the monarchs in French history, the infamous Louis XVI is the one _________.
A. whom with the public is most familiar
B. with whom the public is most familiar
C. that the public is familiar the most
D. the public is most familiar with him
10. Henry James’s novel Portrait of a Lady tells the story of a young woman who travels to Europe and finds herself transformed by the American expatriates _________.
A. she associated with whom
B. with whom she associates
C. whom with she associates
D. associates she whom with
11. The subject _________ I am interested is English.
A. in which
B. that
C. for which
D. which
12. Many gases, including the nitrogen and oxygen in air, _________ color or odor.
A. have no
B. which have no air
C. not having
D. they do not have
13. In the sixteenth century, Martin Luther, _________ against what he saw as the spiritual laxity of the church, wrote his historic 95 theses.
A. reacted
B. was reacted
C. reacting
D. did reach
14. Captain Henry, _________ crept slowly through the underbrush.
A. being remote from the enemy
B. attempting to not encounter the enemy
C. trying to avoid the enemy
D. not involving himself in the enemy
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15. While attempting to reach hi home before the storm, _________.
A. the bicycle of John brake down
B. it happened that John’s bike broke down
C. the storm caught John
D. John had an accident on his bicycle
16. The people at the party were worried about Janet because no one was aware _________ she had gone.
A. where that
B. of where
C. of the place where
D. the place
17. _________ in 1772, Maryland’s state capitol is still in use and is of the most attractive public buildings in the United States.
A. It was built
B. Built
C. To build it
D. Building
18. Snare drums produce a sharp, rattling sound _________.
A. as striking
B. when are struck
C. struck
D. when struck
19. Contact lenses _________ of acrylic are more transparent and less fragile than lenses made of glass.
A. making
B. made
C. are made
D. which make
20. Snakes have an organ in a pit on their heads _________ infrared rays.
A. detects
B. a detection of
C. it detects
D. that detects
21. In 1849 Walter Hunt, _________ American inventor, patented a design that served as the basis for modern safety pins.
A. an
B. he was an
C. being
D. who was, as an

(Check answers below)
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1. B
2. A
3. C
4. C (Reduced Adj. Cl. in active form)
5. A
6. B (reason for or reason why)
7. B (verb present tense- whenever)
8. B
9. B (do not leave preposition at the end of a clause)
10. B
11. A
12. A
13. C
14. C
15. D (Reduced Adverbial Cl.)
16. B (aware of)
17. B (Reduced Adj. Cl. between two commas can be put at the beginning of a sentence)
18. D
19. B
20. D
21. A (Appositive)

Analysis related to Basic Rules of Clauses
The students wrote these sentences, some which contain mistake(s) which can be treated as case studies.
1. → When I play football is rained.
Explanation: This is not a sentence. It starts with one of subordinating conjunctions, so it is a dependent clause. In addition, it should not have two verbs ‘play’ and ‘is rained’. (Refer to basic rules of clauses.)
Suggested Correction(s):
As soon as I played football, it started to rain.
No sooner had I played football than it started to rain.
While I was playing football, it rained. (The action of ‘Simple Past Tense’ interrupted the activity of ‘Past Progressive’.
2. → The mouse died last night was big.
Explanation: It appears that there are two verbs ‘died’ and ‘was’. "died last night" can be reduced adjective clause in passive form. However, the form is not correct. It should be changed to:
The mouse, which died last night, was big. (Adj. Cl.)
The mouse, which was killed last night, was big. (Adj. Cl.)
The mouse, killed last night, was big. (Adj. Cl. in reduced form)
3. → When she will come.
Explanation: Since it is the dependent clause, so standing alone as a sentence is definitely INCORRECT.
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Suggested Correction(s):
When she will come is not known. (Noun Clause as subject of a sentence)
4. → When I was doing homework.
Explanation: Because it is the dependent clause, so standing alone as a sentence is not correct.)
Suggested Correction(s):
When/while I was doing homework, I heard the phone ring. (Adverbial clause)
While I was doing homework, my brother was having a party. (Two activities happening almost at the same time.)
5. → All the people live in earth, they need food and water.
Explanation: Look like there are two independent clauses (IC) and there is no coordinating conjunctions (fansboy) used, so the problem ‘comma splice’ arises. On the other hand, the ‘meaning’ of the two clauses should be connected. It means that they can be combined.)
Suggested Correction(s):
All the people, who are living on earth, need food and water. (Adj. Cl.)
All the people, living on earth, need food and water. (Reduced Adj. Cl.)
6. → Some people eat at restaurants, some eat at home. It is depend on time and their prefer.
Explanation: Again the problem ‘comma splice—the use of two ICs in a sentence without coordinating conjunction’ has arisen/occurred. Also notice the wrong use of verb ‘depend’ and often after any prepositions ‘e.g. on’, noun form should be followed ‘e.g. on prefer→ on preference’.
Suggested Correction(s):
Some people eat at restaurants, while others eat at home. It depends on their time and preference.
Choosing to eat at restaurants or at home depends on people’s time and preference.
(Gerund and ‘to infinitive’ can be used as subject of sentence. When each of them is used as subject, it takes third person verb ‘e.g. buy → buys , go → goes )
7. → Choosing best friend takes a trip with me, it will not make me feel alone.
Explanation: Again ‘comma splice’ has occurred as well as the meaning is not understood in Standard English.
Suggested Correction(s):
Taking best friends to take a trip with me will not make me feel lonely.
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8. → Live in a small town is more fresh than the large city.
Explanation: Gerund form ‘V+ing’ or ‘to infinitive’ or ‘original noun form’ can be used as subject of sentence, but not ‘live’.
Suggested Correction(s):
Living in a small town is fresher than in a large city.
9. → My lovely friend, Lika, she is my close friend.
Explanation: What is the main subject—subject of IC? It seems that there are two subjects ‘My lovely friend’ and ‘she’ and this is not right. Remember ‘appositive’ or ‘prepositional phrase’ cannot be used as subject of sentence.
Suggested Correction(s):
My lovely friend, Lika, is my close friend. (Main subject is ‘my lovely friend’ and ‘Lika’ is called ‘appositive’. When appositive is ‘the name of people’, it does not have to be used between ‘two commas’.
Or *Lika, my lovely friend, is my close friend. (Main subject ‘Lika’ and ‘lovely friend’ as appositive. We can change position of words as long as the meaning is understood or the meaning stays the same to the origin.
10. → Dara, my best friend, I want to take to go on a trip.
Suggested Correction(s):
I want to take my best friend Dara to go with me on a trip.
"How much time you spend doing SELF-STUDY determines how strong you are
and how far you will go."
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Another Episode Related to Basic
Rules of Clauses
Students commonly make the following sentences containing mistakes. However, before going through each mistake, learners should grasp a great deal knowledge of basic RULES OF CLAUSES. In addition, you should go through the points mentioned in the box below for further and detail analysis of whether a sentence is correct or incorrect.
To decide whether a sentence is correct or incorrect, study these points:
a. Is there an independent clause in the sentence? The sentence can consist of more than one clauses. Regardless, if there is no independent clause, mark it wrong.
b. Does each word in the sentence follow certain rules/patterns/structures of grammar? Bear in mind that exceptional rules might be put into consideration as long as they are proved correct in any available grammar books. Hence, you should read as many grammar books as possible in order to absorb most of the rules applied.
c. Study the whole meaning: does the meaning make sense? or if some parts of the sentence are not understood, the sentence is considered incorrect.
1. This building is build by Mr. Simon is now are destroyed by crowd of playboys.
Explanation: What is the main verb-verb of independent clause? This sentence consists of verbs such as: "is build", "is", and "are destroyed".
Suggested correction (s):
This building, which is built by Mr. Simon, is now being destroyed by crowd of playboys. ("which is built by Mr. Simon" is called Adj.Cl. and the main verb is "destroy" in passive form.)
Or
This building, built by Mr. Simon, is now being destroyed by crowd of playboys.
("built by Mr. Simon" is adj. Cl. in reduced form.)
Or
Built by Mr. Simon, this building is now being destroyed by crowd of playboys.
(Adj. Cl. in reduced form between two commas CAN BE PUT AT THE BEGINNING.)
2. I’m know that today my friend will be no class because he so busy with him work.
Explanation: Notice the words in bold.
Suggested Correction(s):
I know that today my friend will have no class because he is so busy with his work.
3. She is a rich man, that have a lot of money is my aunt.
Explanation: ("that have" should be adj. cl. that modifies "the man". However, it should be changed to "that has" because "the man" is singular. In addition to grammar correction, the meaning of this sentence does not really make sense in Standard English.
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Suggested Correction(s):
The man who is rich is my uncle. ("Rich" means "have a lot of money"already.)
Or
The rich man is my uncle.
4. He is a man who sleeping is my dad.
Explanation: ("who sleeping" appears as the adj. cl. that modifies "a man", but it is not in the CORRECT FORM-see basic rules of clauses. Furthermore, there are two verbs "is" and "is" and the meaning is not understood in Standard English.)
Suggested Correction(s):
The man who is sleeping is my dad. ("the man" is the main subject, whereas "who is sleeping" is adjective clause and "is" is the main verb.)
5. Television can do people eyes be problem.
Explanation: Notice the words in bold. The meaning can be understood in Khmer, but sounds very poor in Standard English.
Suggested Correction(s):
Television can cause problems to people’s eyes.
Or
People’s eyes can develop problems if exposed too much to television.
("if exposed too much to television" is called REDUCED ADVERBIAL CLAUSE. The full form should be: ............................ if they are exposed too much to television. For more detail, refer to "Basic Rules of Clauses".)
6. If we take watching television time to do another thing like do homework or reading books is better.
Explanation: The sentence starts with one of subordinating conjunctions and it appears that there is no independent clause, so there is no doubt that we can mark this sentence INCORRECT.
Suggested Correction(s):
It is better to take watching television time to do homework or read books.
Or
It is better if we take watching television time to do homework or read books.
Or
Spending time doing homework or reading books is better than spending time watching television.
7. Why the speaking skill is the most important because of the speaking can help you to find the job.
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Explanation: This sentence begins with "why"-the clause marker of noun clause. Here, noun clause can function as subject of the sentence, but what is the main verb? After all, the meaning cannot be understood in Standard English.
Suggested Correction(s):
Speaking skill is the most important because it can help you to find the job.
(After "because" plus clause and after preposition e.g. "because of" plus noun form.
Or
Speaking skill is the most important due to/because of its assistance in getting the job.
8. You are always hear many sounds of driving.
Explanation: (The verb form "are .. hear" is not in the right form-learn about each tense in Grammar. Moreover, "many" plus countable plural noun, but "sound" should be uncountable noun.)
Suggested Correction(s):
You are always hearing much noise of driving. (Present Progressive can be used to show annoyance/irritation.)
9. The reason that is a job is desirable is a good salary is not all true.
Explanation: What is the main verb? Is the clause in the correct form?
Suggested Correction(s):
The reason that a job is desirable on account of/due to/because of its good salary is not all true.
Or
That a job is desirable because it offers good salary is not all true. (Noun Cl. as subject of a sentence and the main verb is "is".)
10. A job is desirable is a good salary and it can make the people’s feeling are happy.
Explanation: Notice the words in bold.
Suggested Correction(s):
A job that is desirable offers good salary and it can make people’s feeling happy.
(The main subject is "a job" and the main verb is "offer", whereas "that is desirable" is called "adjective clause".)
"Wishing to become the best injects you with greater effort, sharper determination and attainable goals that only few people can foresee."
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