Linking - The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook

The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook (2013)

UNIT NINE. Linking

9.1. Linking signals

Sections 351–359; 238; 470–472

We help people to understand our messages by signalling how one idea leads to another. Most of the words and phrases which have this connecting function in English are sentence adverbials, and they generally come at the beginning of a sentence. Their most important functions are:

•making a new start

•changing the subject

•listing and adding

•reinforcement

•summary and generalisation

•explanation

•reformulation

Task **

Complete the dialogue by adding a suitable linking signal as suggested by the function in brackets.

Andy:

Didn’t it snow heavily last night. (1. Making a new start), not heavily, but a lot. (2. Reformulation), I’ve had a bad time getting into work this morning.

Ben:

It wasn’t easy. (3. Changing the subject), you do realise that that report has to be finished by Friday, don’t you?

Andy:

Friday? That’ll never happen.

Ben:

Why not?

Andy:

There just isn’t the time. We haven’t got all the information we need. (4. Explanation), we don’t have the figures for the last quarter of the year.

Ben:

I can easily get those. (5. Making a new start), what other problems are there?

Andy:

(6. Making a new start), (7. Listing): what about staff reductions? How are they to be included?

(8. Listing): what about the “bad debt” write-offs?

(9. Listing): Is the Managing Director’s pension enhancement to be included in the whole of last year’s figures?

All these things have made a dent in our profits. (10. Generalising), they do not reflect on the increased business, (11. Explanation), the fact that we have opened up new markets, (12. Explanation), in South-east Asia and some of the Russian republics.

Ben:

(13. Summary), you want to be able to say that the business is improving, so we have to figure in special items for this year.

Andy:

Yes. (14. Adding), I want to stress that things like the bad debts are one-off items, (15. Explanation), of course, they won’t be repeated.

Ben:

Not even the managing director’s pension?

Andy:

(16. Summary), no! Not even the Managing Director’s pension provision. (17. Reinforcement), I think that was already considered in the mid-year report. (18. Changing the subject), what do you think about the proposed branch closures?

Ben:

It’s terrible.

Andy:

It will be for some people. (19. Explanation) the older staff who won’t easily find another job.

Ben:

It won’t?

Andy:

No. Not here at head office. (20. Reinforcement), we may take on more staff.

Ben:

Glad to hear it.

9.2. ‘General purpose’ links

Sections 371–374; 110–111; 493–494; 686–694

In addition to a positive link between two ideas expressed by ‘and’, there are other vague or ‘general purpose’ connections:

•relative clauses

•participle and verbless clauses

•grammatically unlinked clauses

Task one **

Identify the restrictive and non-restrictive clauses by re-writing them to show their connecting function. Insert commas where appropriate.

1.They won’t finish the work today and that causes a problem.

2.I don’t like mobile phones that have a musical repetitive tone.

3.He was always late and that lost him his job.

4.Be sure to buy a savings bond that gives you a good return on your investment.

5.The books that were badly stacked fell across the floor.

6.They have problems with their neighbours who are very noisy.

7.Many people who found themselves always playing ‘Solitaire’ on their computer have had the game removed.

8.People shouldn’t ski off-piste which is dangerous.

9.The arrangements for the conference which were very bad angered him.

10.He fell madly in love with Barbara who was directing the play.

Task two **

Match the unlinked clauses in columns I and II, and identify the connecting function.

I

II

1.

I haven’t seen them for some time.

A.

I’ve got to finish this work.

2.

Always keep the TV volume down at night.

B.

They’ve been away in Africa.

3.

He published the book himself.

C.

You’ll be late.

4.

He drove fast along the road, swerving round the corner.

D.

Winter’s coming.

5.

You must answer truthfully.

E.

There was a terrible crash.

6.

Get a move on!

F.

You can’t make a can of peas look sexy.

7.

I can’t come out to play.

G.

It won’t disturb the neighbours.

8.

The train was delayed.

H.

No harm will come to you.

9.

The birds are going south.

I.

No publisher was interested.

10.

Supermarkets put fresh produce in front.

J.

There was a cow on the line.

Task three **

Rewrite the following text changing the underlined clauses into participle or verbless clauses.

As he knew it was time to go, Rob finally got his things together. He didn’t want to leave, so he had left tidying up to the last minute. Now it was empty of all his books and papers, the office seemed quite large. Just by looking round the room, he recalled the thrill of the first time he had walked in. He had felt proud and determined to succeed in this new position. If he had been seen to be a keen and co-operative worker, he would have had further promotion. But because he didn’t understand the corporate culture, he tried to do everything to promote himself above his colleagues. They grew tired of this and made his work difficult. He was soon failing to get things done on time, so he was asked to reconsider his position. He knew there was nothing he could do, so he resigned.

9.3. Cross-reference to noun phrases and substitutes for a noun phrase

Sections 375–382; 510; 529; 597–601; 619–622; 675–680

The personal pronouns he, she, it, they, etc. cross-refer to noun phrases, and agree with them in number and/or gender.

Occasionally, 1st and 2nd pronouns substitute for coordinate noun phrases.

Sometimes a plural pronoun cross-refers to quantifier pronouns like everybody, somebody, no one, and anyone.

Other pronouns such as one, some, each, none can act as substitutes for a noun phrase.

The pronouns that and those can act as substitutes with definite meaning.

Task one **

Replace the phrases underlined with appropriate pronouns.

1.I used to have high blood pressure. The high blood pressure somehow affected my eyes.

2.Thubron’s journey takes Thubron through a spectacular area of desert and mountains.

3.The book will deserve, through the beauty of the book’s prose, to stand alongside the best of travel writing.

4.Thubron is an extraordinary traveller, but Thubron wears Thubron’s knowledge as casually as Thubron’s rucksack.

5.Nobody is quite as you remember the person.

6.In the Tajiks’ villages of clay and brushwood, the Tajiks walk about in bright colours.

7.People began to laugh. Jacobi turned to glare at the people who began to laugh.

8.Pat and I always went there. It was one of Pat’s and my favourite spots.

9.Jacobi found he was bored with the piano and switched over to the violin. The only problem with switching from the piano to the violin was that he had to carry the violin home in a canvas case.

10.My two companions and I were summoned back to the office although my two companions and I still had unfinished business in the town.

Task two **

Complete the sentences with an appropriate pronoun.

1.It was obvious that the two students had cheated though neither of ………….. would admit it.

2.This early sonata is among his best. …………..he wrote later were too formulaic.

3.The daffodils this year have done better than …………..last year.

4.They short-listed six of the applicants, but ………….. of them interviewed well.

5.It’s every man for …………..

6.I’ve read all Shakespeare’s plays. Romeo and Juliet is the ………….. I know best.

7.He’s won many prizes, including several of the most important …………..

8.She takes very good photographs. ………….. have won the top international prizes.

9.He has a house in London, ………….. in Geneva and ………….. in the Caribbean.

10.There are too many books here. ………….. of them belong to you. Take ………….. back, please.

11.The problem of including sensitive questions in a census is always a delicate …………..

12.It was only in 1829 that provision was made for a regular police force in the metropolitan London area. ………….. was followed by further legislation establishing 43 county and borough forces.

13.Would you like a cup of tea? No thanks. I had ………….. just half-an-hour ago.

14.I preferred the play they did last year to the ………….. this year.

15.The herdsmen had all collapsed on the ground, ………….. here, ………….. there.

9.4. Substitutes for structures containing a verb

Sections 383–385; 479; 482

The dummy auxiliary do can act as a substitute for the whole of a clause apart from the subject.

Other auxiliaries can be used in a similar way. That is, you can omit the whole or part of a sentence following an auxiliary.

Be as a main verb cannot be omitted after an auxiliary.

The main verb do acts a substitute for a main verb, normally a verb denoting some action or activity. Do requires an object which may be it, that or so.

Task one *

Complete the short answers to the following questions.

1.Who wants to go to the cinema? I (positive)/I (negative)

2.Did you finish the essay last night? Yes, I …………..

3.Will you get a ticket for Tom? I already …………..

4.Is Joan coming to the party? I don’t know. She may …….., she …….. not

5.Did Terry get the job? No, he …………..

6.Will you be able to meet Fred on Friday? Of course, I …………..

7.Have you read Amis’s new book? Yes, I …………..

8.Do you like our new millennium bridge? No, I …………..

9.Who was responsible for all the disturbance last night? She …………..

10.Who can deliver this parcel for me? He …………..

Task two **

Rewrite the sentences below with an appropriate substitution for the part underlined.

1.John will come with us to the theatre if Susan will come with us to the theatre.

2.He might get the job, but I don’t think he will get the job.

3.That is something I can’t tell you, but he can tell you.

4.Is Harold Pinter our greatest playwright? Yes, he is our greatest playwright.

5.Why didn’t you tell me? I’m sorry. I know I should have told you.

6.Why don’t you sit down? Why should I sit down?

7.Is it possible to buy stamps in that shop? It might be possible to buy stamps in that shop.

8.She got the travel brochure for hotels in Australia, but she didn’t get the travel brochure for the hotels in Singapore.

9.If you haven’t finished the work by now, you should have finished the work by now.

10.Are you going to invite Michael to your party? I could invite Michael to my party, but I don’t want to invite Michael to my party. He always quarrels with people.

Task three **

Complete the sentences below with do that, do it, or do so, etc.

1.A: He told them he didn’t like going there. B: Why did he ……………..?

2.If they invite you to join them at their country house, you should …………….. It’s a wonderful place.

3.He’ll ask you to work late, but don’t …………….. You’ll simply be seen as an easy touch and you’ll get no thanks.

4.A: They say he turned down the job. B: Why should he ……………..? It’s stupid.

5.He’s promised to come next week. If he …………….., it’ll be the first time he’s been here in years.

6.Go and see your aunt while you’re in London. To …………….. will cost you nothing and give her a lot of pleasure.

7.It won’t help if I do the work for you. In any case, why should I ……………..? You’ve never done anything for me.

8.Give up teaching! Why ……………..? I thought you loved the job, and everyone say you’re a wonderful teacher.

9.So you want to spend the next two years just travelling round the world. Well, in order to …………….., you’ll need to work hard now and save all your money. We can’t help you.

10.To continue doing research, you’ll need to get a very good degree. To …………….., you’ll have to work much harder than you do now.

9.5. Substitutes for wh-clauses and to-infinitive clauses

Sections 387–389; 94; 99; 376

The whole of a wh-clause following the wh-word can be omitted.

With infinitive clauses, you can omit the whole clause following to.

The definite pronouns it, that and this are widely used as substitutes for noun clauses as well as for noun phrases.

Task **

Find simpler substitutes for the clauses underlined.

1.He’s gone out, but I don’t know where he’s gone.

2.A: Let’s go and see a film. B: I’d love to go and see a film, but I’m busy tonight.

3.I intend to go to Brazil, but I don’t know when I’ll go to Brazil.

4.You can go climbing if you want to go climbing. I’m staying here. I’d rather read a book.

5.You should keep exercising. To keep exercising is the best way to stop your knees becoming stiff.

6.The garden is organised into several areas. The organisation of the garden into several areas gives a lot of variety to the garden and makes it seem much bigger than it is.

7.It rained every day while they were in Spain. That it rained every day meant that they couldn’t enjoy the beautiful countryside.

8.You need to get a tourist ticket. I can do that for you if you want me to get the tourist ticket.

9.He wants me to go and see that film about a monk’s journey to Indonesia, but I don’t want to go and see that film about a monk’s journey to Indonesia.

10.A: Two hundred jobs are to go in the car factory. B: How do you know two hundred jobs are to go in the car factory?

11.A: Do you ever go back to the restaurant where you and your wife met? B: No, I can’t bear to go back there since she left me.

12.Many Internet companies were unable to cope with the slow business build-up. The slow business build-up meant that many went bankrupt.

9.6. Omission with non-finite and verbless clauses

Sections 392–394; 493–494

Non-finite and verbless clauses have no operator (the first auxiliary of a verb phrase) and often no conjunction or subject. They are more economical than finite subclauses and avoid repetition. They are more favoured in formal and written styles of English.

Task one **

Rewrite the underlined clauses using non-finite or verbless clauses.

1.This man, who was well-known to me, caused all the problems in the department.

2.I expect that I shall see you while I’m in London.

3.Next month is the time when you should visit Italy.

4.As he was a born leader, James soon attracted the attention of the company management.

5.He had retired from the army and so gave up his title of General.

6.He doubted that she would come and made plans to go with another woman.

7.I know how you have behaved in the past; so I cannot accept you as a member of the group.

8.Ian had thought he would see a film that evening.

9.He was given so much time; he should have completed the work.

10.Please get me a taxi. I’ve drunk so much I mustn’t drive my car tonight.

Task two **

Rewrite the following sentences, using non-finite or verbless clauses but, where possible, keeping the subordinators.

1.While Tom knew Maria had cheated in the exam, he, nonetheless, congratulated her warmly.

2.As he was going to Sweden for his job, he decided to wait until he was there before he bought a new winter coat.

3.Since I’ve lived here, I’ve not made any real friends.

4.Whether he was rich or poor, Joe always organised a good party on his birthday.

5.After Mary had read the best-seller about an old woman, she felt she was able to cope with old age.

6.When he met her after several years, he felt very sorry they had not become close friends.

7.After he had retired, he lived in Tasmania.

8.Since I don’t know the way, I’d rather you drove.

9.Since he has known the truth about them, he has become very wary of them.

10.Though they were unsuccessful in their last business, they are determined to start again.