Complex Sentence
Complex Sentences Complex sentences are sentences that have several parts, each with a verb, and these parts are joined by ‘joining words’ (连词). For example, here are two simple sentences: “I know a man. He has five children.” If you join these two sentences by using the relative pronoun (联系代名词) ‘who’, it now becomes a complex sentence: “I know a man who has five children.” (By the way, ‘who’ is not pronounced with extra word stress here. You only stress this word when it means ‘ 谁?’, which is not the case here.) [pic]
It is important to show the examiner that you can use a variety of words to join sentence parts in order to make longer, more complex sentences. Examiners are looking at this and if you don’t show it well enough, you won’t get a 6 (or above) for grammar. This is a strict rule that the examiners must follow, even if other aspects of your grammar are very good. Below are some suggestions about making complex sentences: 1. Don’t unnecessarily repeat the same noun – use pronouns such as he, she it, we, they, the one, the ones and 联系代名词. 2. Show that you can use 联系代名词 – that, which, who, whom, where, when. 3. Show that you can use: if, although (= though), even though, as well (as), at the moment, even, while, whereas, either, neither (+ nor), unless, rather than, instead of, as soon as, when, once, after, while, meanwhile, besides, in spite of, despite, yet, still, provided (providing) that, except, in order to, in case, depending on, because, but, and, as, or, for example, for instance, like, such as, by …
There are probably more linking words that I have forgotten but this is a good list to study.
How can you learn to use these words correctly? Firstly, don’t guess at the meaning or usage of these words and phrases – use a good dictionary that has both English and Chinese to see the exact meaning and usage. For example, the ‘Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary’ is a good one.
After you read the Chinese
It is important to show the examiner that you can use a variety of words to join sentence parts in order to make longer, more complex sentences. Examiners are looking at this and if you don’t show it well enough, you won’t get a 6 (or above) for grammar. This is a strict rule that the examiners must follow, even if other aspects of your grammar are very good. Below are some suggestions about making complex sentences: 1. Don’t unnecessarily repeat the same noun – use pronouns such as he, she it, we, they, the one, the ones and 联系代名词. 2. Show that you can use 联系代名词 – that, which, who, whom, where, when. 3. Show that you can use: if, although (= though), even though, as well (as), at the moment, even, while, whereas, either, neither (+ nor), unless, rather than, instead of, as soon as, when, once, after, while, meanwhile, besides, in spite of, despite, yet, still, provided (providing) that, except, in order to, in case, depending on, because, but, and, as, or, for example, for instance, like, such as, by …
There are probably more linking words that I have forgotten but this is a good list to study.
How can you learn to use these words correctly? Firstly, don’t guess at the meaning or usage of these words and phrases – use a good dictionary that has both English and Chinese to see the exact meaning and usage. For example, the ‘Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary’ is a good one.
After you read the Chinese