In essay writing, grammar is always the essence of a flawless assignment. Despite having valid points and outstanding vocabulary usage, minor grammatical mistakes can ruin an otherwise beautiful piece of essay. One of the most common grammar mistake made by me is the subject-verb-agreement. Subject-verb-agreement is to know whether the subject is singular or plural and recognising a singular or plural verb. There are several points to take note for self improvement in this area.
Firstly, sometimes the pronoun is the subject of a verb in the middle of the sentence. The pronoun becomes singular or plural according to the noun directly in front of them. Thus, we will have to use the corresponding verb for the noun.
Secondly, dealing with words that indicate portions of an item, we need to look at the noun in the phrase to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, a singular verb will be used and vice versa. In short, the verb that we use need to correspond to the noun instead of the portions stated.
Last but not least, in certain cases, the subject is separated from the verb in a sentence. In such cases, we have to ignore the expressions that separate the subject and the verb in order to determine a singular or plural verb is to be used. Thus, we have to remember the subject we have written at the beginning of the sentence to avoid such mistake.
In conclusion, we have to be careful when dealing with such grammatical mistakes. We have to take note on the subject or the noun that we are writing to implement the correct verb use. Such skills will take time to adopt through practices to achieve a good writing habit.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Practice for Portfolio 2(Grammar - SVA)
The Uses if Science - an Opinion
Science is important to most people living in the modern world for a number of reasons. One of the major reasons 1.are that science is important to world peace and understanding, to the understanding of technology, and to our understanding of the natural world. Science is also an interesting area of study. Some areas of science 2.is especially interesting because they deal with questions all men and women ask themselves. Scientists try to provide some explanations for what 3.happen to people.
Science is important to world peace in many ways. On one hand, scientists have helped to develop many of the modern tools of war. On the other hand, they have also helped to keep the peace through study and research which 4.have improved life for people everywhere. In our time, scientists have been able to help us understand the problem of supplying the world with enough energy. They have begun to develop a number of solutions to the energy problem, using energy from the sun and from the atom, for example, 5.are one. Scientists have also analyzed the world’s resources. We are going to have to share the resources we have, and we can begin to do this with the knowledge that 6.are provided to us by science.
Science is also important to everyone who 7.get affected by modern technology. Many of the things that 8.makes our lives easier and better are the result of advances in technology. Almost everything in the world 9.have been improved or changed in the last hundred years as a result of technology. While some people would ask whether all these changes are good, it is still true that technology 10.affect all of us. And, if the present patterns continue, technology will affect us even more in the future than it does now. In some cases, such as the technology for taking salt out of ocean water, technology may be essential to our lives on earth. In order to understand the modern world and developments in it in the next century, an understanding of science and technology 11.are necessary.
Science is also important to everyone who 7.get affected by modern technology. Many of the things that 8.makes our lives easier and better are the result of advances in technology. Almost everything in the world 9.have been improved or changed in the last hundred years as a result of technology. While some people would ask whether all these changes are good, it is still true that technology 10.affect all of us. And, if the present patterns continue, technology will affect us even more in the future than it does now. In some cases, such as the technology for taking salt out of ocean water, technology may be essential to our lives on earth. In order to understand the modern world and developments in it in the next century, an understanding of science and technology 11.are necessary.
The study of science also provides us with an understanding of the natural world. Scientists are learning to predict such things as earthquakes. This may someday help to save hundreds of lives. Scientists are also continuing to study many other natural events such as storms of various kinds. Scientists are also studying people. They are trying to understand not only what makes people human, but also the things that affect people such as illness. They are studying various other aspects of human biology, also. The study of the natural world by scientists and by students of science help to make the world easier to understand. It has also saved many lives, and 12.improves life for many people all over the world.
Some of the things one 13.study in a science course are extremely interesting questions about people and their lives. Some of these questions are: what are men and women, essentially? What information 14.help us to understand all people better? What information explains where human beings 15.comes from and why they act the way they do? These are all questions that interest scientists and that, when answered, will surely have an effect on our lives.
One of the reasons science is hard to study is that there are so many questions without answers. Much of science 16.involve asking questions, and then studying and doing research to try to find the answers. Some questions have been studied by research scientists for many years and the answers are still not known. However, scientists are slowly but surely able to answer more and more questions about life, and these answers change our lives and also 17.explains them.
One of the reasons science is hard to study is that there are so many questions without answers. Much of science 16.involve asking questions, and then studying and doing research to try to find the answers. Some questions have been studied by research scientists for many years and the answers are still not known. However, scientists are slowly but surely able to answer more and more questions about life, and these answers change our lives and also 17.explains them.
All of the many different kinds of science 18.is important and interesting. Scientists are asking and answering many interesting and important questions about people and their lives. A basic knowledge of science 19.enable you to understand both the questions and the answers. In the modern world, this ability 20.are essential for everyone.
Passage taken from: Alice Horning, 1988. The Uses of Science-an Opinion in Readings in Contemporary Culture. McGraw-Hill. (Central Lib. PE1128 Hor)
Answers and explanations:
1. is - One of the major reasons is that science is important
2. are - Some areas of science are especially interesting
3. happens - the what means general, which is singular
4. has - keep the peace through study and research which has improved life
5. is - for example (only one solution is stated)
6. is - with the knowledge that is provided
7. gets - important to everyone who gets affected
8. make - Many of the things make our life easier
9. has - Almost everything in the world has improved
10. affects - still true that technology affects all of us
11. is - an understanding of science and technology is necessary
12. improve -It has also saved many lives, and improves life
13. studies - Some of the things one studies in a science course
14. helps - What information helps us
15. come - What information explains where human beings come from
16. involves - Much of science involves (Much is uncountable, therefore use singular verb)
17. explain - these answers change our lives and explain them
18. are - many different kinds of science are important
19. enables - A basic knowledge of science enables you to understand
20. is - this ability is essential for everyone
Portfolio 1 - Grand Challenges for Engineering
Looking at the current situation of the world, the “even distribution of engineers’ inventions” as mentioned in article one will be paramount to the profession. Many third world countries still lack the technologies to counteract the ongoing threats due to insufficient funds and knowledge. Engineers should distribute their inventions around the world to achieve global stability which is the utmost essence for the long run in civilization.
The invention of the NEWater system in Singapore can be shared with countries such as Thailand that lack clean water for consumption. With regards to the recent earthquake in Si Chuan, Japan can assist by imparting its knowledge on the infrastructure of their buildings as they are able to withstand the tremors of earthquakes to a great extent. Also, as America is well-known for their medical inventions against various lethal viruses and diseases, such vaccines can be dispersed to countries such as Africa for them to achieve health stability.
Although the even distribution of such invention is important, it requires large amount of funds to carry out the process. Thus countries should assist one another to achieve global stability against incoming threats. Such investments will benefit the world as a whole in the long run.
The invention of the NEWater system in Singapore can be shared with countries such as Thailand that lack clean water for consumption. With regards to the recent earthquake in Si Chuan, Japan can assist by imparting its knowledge on the infrastructure of their buildings as they are able to withstand the tremors of earthquakes to a great extent. Also, as America is well-known for their medical inventions against various lethal viruses and diseases, such vaccines can be dispersed to countries such as Africa for them to achieve health stability.
Although the even distribution of such invention is important, it requires large amount of funds to carry out the process. Thus countries should assist one another to achieve global stability against incoming threats. Such investments will benefit the world as a whole in the long run.
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