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Participle clauses combine two sentences or clauses, both of which share the same subject, and make a single sentence. They use:
- the present participle of a main verb for active sentences
- the past participle/ 3rd form for passive sentences.
They can perform a number of different functions, such as giving background information, reasons, results or conditions. Correct use of participle clauses will help to improve your GRA score.
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10. Look at these examples of complex sentences produced from simple sentences.In pairs, discuss how this has been done, using the underlined words to help you.
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1
Original sentences: Social media to the internet around twenty years ago. It has since gone from strength to strength.
Participle clause sentence: to the internet around twenty years ago, social media has since gone from strength to strength.
2
Original sentences: Many critics have suggested that it is affecting the closeness of family relationships. that people spend too much time staring at screens rather than actually talking to each other.
Participle clause sentence: Many critics have suggested that it is affecting the closeness of family relationships, arguing that people spend too much time staring at screens rather than actually talking to each other.
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11. Using the examples from exercise 10, transform sentences 1 and 2 to make each one a single participle clause sentence. There may be more than one possible answer.
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1. Young people are greatly excited by social media. They believe that it is a necessary way to keep in contact with their friends.
2. Some people argue that social media is the perfect tool for modern communication. They draw attention to the fact that family members and friends often find it impossible to spend time with each other.
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12. Look at ideas A and B (each expressed in two sentences) and then at a rewritten version of the third paragraph of the essay from exercise 4. For each set of ideas, underline where the writer has paraphrased them in complex sentences in the essay.
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A. It is possible to argue that social media has created a society in which people spend less face-to-face time with friends and family. However, it has revolutionised the way in which we relate to one another.
B. Most people would not welcome a return to an old-fashioned style of communication. They are more accustomed now to this convenient new form of interaction.
| With this in mind, it seems logical to suggest that the positive sides of social media are more significant than the negative. Although it is possible to argue that it has created a society in which people spend less face-to-face time with friends and family, social media has revolutionised the way in which we relate to one another. It is easier than ever to keep in touch with old friends, to post pictures of exciting moments in our lives, or to send a quick message to parents. Most people would not welcome a return to an old-fashioned style of communication, being more accustomed now to this convenient new form of interaction. |
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13. Read through the model essay paragraphs in exercises 5 and 12. Then decide which option, A, B or C, is the best conclusion for this essay.
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A. In conclusion, social media has proved to be a success because people greatly enjoy the benefits it brings, adapting their approach to friendships and family relationships in order to maintain and improve these bonds in new ways. This is clearly more of a positive than a negative development.
B. In conclusion, I would argue that there are more positive than negative aspects to the effects of social media on our friendships and family relationships.
C. In conclusion, there are too many reasons to outline in a short essay, both in favour and against social media, so perhaps it is better simply to stay neutral: both positives and negatives are roughly equal.
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