Avoiding Primer Style writing: I call it “Primary Reader Style. This is where text is written with a bunch of short little sentences.
Note: there are other signs of primer style, but anyone of interest can check it out for themselves.
Some examples of what I am referring to are:
See Juan Run. See Tove Run. See Lee Run, etc.
This makes the reading somewhat choppy and boring. I have learned in my English studies that sometimes it’s best to join sentences (clauses) whenever possible and meaning is left intact.
I mentioned clauses: first, what is a clause?
The way that I had it so patiently taught to me was, “A clause is a group of words that has at least one subject and a verb”.
There are two main types of clauses: Independent clause: a clause (group of words with a subject and verb) that can stand alone as a sentence and that is joined together by a comma and one of seven coordinating conjunctions or by a semi-colon. Dependent clause: a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence, but yet it contains a subject and verb. These clauses begin with words such as because, when, however, if, who, which, that, etc.
Now after having written about what all of you as native speakers of English have possibly naturally “acquired”—and as it has so eloquently and patiently been pointed out that it may be information that is “too difficult for many to retain and implement”, I will repeat my question about splitting verb phrases.
Note: I mentioned other signs of Primer Style writing, and that is the use of a lot of little verbs that really don’t say much about what a subject is or does. Examples: My dad is an accountant. My dad is very smart. I eat. I play.
If I were only to pepper my text with the use of a bunch of these intransitive and linking verbs, I am sure that even I would get bored fairly quickly.
Okay: back to my original and serious question:
When joining sentences and using verb phrases, when, if ever, should one split verb phrases? I had given the example of using the coordinating conjunction “nor” to join two sentences.
I will not go with her (Sigrid). I will not go with her (Gunn).
How would you suggest joining these two sentences—if you would suggest joining them at all?
It has been suggested that maybe there is a better way than: I will not go with her (Sigrid), nor will I go with her (Gunn).
(In this example, I have two independent clauses joined together by using a comma and the coordinating conjunction nor, making a “compound sentence).
This style and usage should not be considered non-essential to one’s learning of English—this is very much a part of the “whole picture”—in my humble opinion, of course.
Again, for many of us “learners” of English, we are learning English so that we can not only communicate to a vast collection of people throughout the world, but that we can be heard as being intelligent—being well learned and intelligent.
Most would agree that we are often judged by the way we communicate with others. Once, people depended on oral communication—now, however, more than ever, we are communicating electronically—writing, and texting. As with oral communication, we will be judged on how we are able to communicate in writing. True, a waiter, bellboy, taxi driver, etc., will not have much need to prove their abilities or experiences in text form, but many others will—such as many tech supporters, web page designers, translators, online shopping sales people, medical transcription, etc.
Not to split verb phrases is a myth.
My point? Learn English well.
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