Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 243
B) Incorrect Omission or Inclusion of an Article
Sometimes an article is used when none is needed, or one is omitted when one is required.
... Sample Items
Slag consists of waste materials and impurities which
- A -
- H -
rise to top of melted metals.
- c - D
The definite article the should not be omitted from the phrase to the top of
The most asteroids are beyond the orbit of the planet Mars.
ABC D
Definite article are used only before quantity expressions that contain of phrases. (Most asteroids or Most of the asteroids are both correct in this sentence.) ..
C) Use of a Definite Article in Place of a Possessive
A definite article may be incorrectly used in place of a possessive word-its, his, her, or their.
... Sample Item
The Ozark Mountains of Arkansas are famous for the rugged beauty.
ABC 0
The should correctly read their because the sentence refers to the beauty belonging to the Ozark Mountains. ..
Exercise 40.1
Focus: Identifying the correct and incorrect use of articles.
Directions: Underline the forms that correctly complete the sentence. The first one is done as an example.
1.Only about (the one/one) percent of (the water/water) on Earth is (the fresh/fresh) water.
2.(The mineral/Mineral) phosphate is (the most/most) common ingredient of all types of (the fertilizers/fertilizers) .
3.(The/A) process of refming minerals requires (a/an) huge amount of (an electrical/electrical) energy.
4.(A humor/Humor) runs through (the American/American) literature from (the earliest/earliest) times until (the present/present).
244 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
5.(The ozone/Ozone) layer acts as (a/an) umbrella against (the most/most) of (the Sun's/Sun's) dangerous rays.
6.In (the early/early) 1800's, Sequoia, (a Cherokee/Cherokee) leader, created (the/a) ftrst written form of (a North/North) American Indian language.
7.(The Goddard/Goddard) family of (the New/New) England produced some of (the/a) ftnest furniture made in (the United/United) States in (the seventeenth/seventeenth) century.
8.(The popcorn/Popcorn) has (a/the) same food value as any other kind of (a corn/corn).
9.One of (the most/most) important tools for (a research/ research) in social science is (a well- written/well-written) questionnaire.
10.Native to (the American/American) West, (the/a) coyote came east early in (the twentieth/twentieth) century when its chief natural competitor, (the/a) woIf, died out.
11.(The nineteenth/Nineteenth) century astronomer Alvin G. Clarke built hundreds of (the refracting/refracting) telescopes during (theihis) lifetime.
12.(The Hawaiian!Hawaiian) Islands are among (the most/most) geographically isolated islands in (the world/world).
Exercise 40.2
Focus: Identifying and correcting errors with articles. (Note: One or two items in this exercise do not focus on article errors. These are marked in the answer key with an asterisk.)
Directions: Decide which of the four underlined words or phrases-(A), (B), (C), or (D)-would not be considered correct, and write the letter of the expression in the blank. Then, in the line at the end of the sentence, write a correction for the underlined phrase. The first one is done as an example.
~1. The most butterfly eggs are coated with a sticky substance that holds them to plants.
A
- B -
- C - 0 -
Most
2.
A number of large insurance companies have the
headquarters in Hartford,
ABC D
Connecticut. ______
___
3.
To be effective, an advertisement must first attract an attention. ______
A
B
--c-
0
4.
Virgin Islands National Park features a underwater preserve with coral reefs and colorful
A
- B -
C
tropical fish. ______
o
___
5.
Arthritis, a painful swelling of the
joints, is often associated with elderly people, but
ABC
can afflict young as well. ______
o
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 245
6. Wilmington is an only large city in the state of Delaware. ______
A
13 C
0
7. About the third of the earth's land surface is covered by relatively flat plains.
A
B - C
D
8.
In the 1920's, gasoline companies began giving away free road maps to the customers.
A
B
-c:
D
___ 9.
The Tropic of Cancer is imaginary line that marks the northern boundary of the Earth's
ABC
D
tropical zone. ______
10.
Hereford cows are one of most common breeds of cattle raised for beef. ______
A
B
-c-:-
D
11.
American soprano Kathleen Battle taught music in elementary school before beginning
A
B
the career as a professional singer. ______
C
D
12.
In 1891, first
state law to help local communities pay for highways
was passed in New
7:""
- B -
C
D
Jersey. ______
___ 13.
Lumber is dried and seasoned in an heated chamber called a dry kiln. ______
ABC
D
14. Grandfather Mountain, a highest mountain in the Blue Ridge mountain range, is in
ABC D
North Carolina. ______
___ 15. The term "baritone" refers to the range of male voice that lies between tenor to bass.
A
B
-C-
D
___ 16. It was around 1925 that accurate, convenient system for recording the choreography of
ABC
ballet was developed. ______
D
246 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
___ 17. Richard Byrd was the first person in the history to fly over the North Pole.
A
B
-C-O
___ 18. At beginning of the Civil War, Matthew Brady was authorized to accompany
A B
the Union Army and take photographs. ______
C
0
___ 19. In 1878 in San Francisco, KateWiggins open the first kindergarten on the West Coast.
A
- B - C
D
20. The tulip tree, the tallest broadleaf plant in the eastern United States, may reach height
ABC - D -
of over 200 feet. ______
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 247
LESSON 41
ERRORS WITH COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
Most adjectives have three forms: the absolute (the basic adjective form), the comparative, and the superlative. Comparatives are used to show that one item has more of some quality that another does.
George is taller than his brother.
Superlatives are used to show that one item in a group of three or more has the greatest amount of some quality.
He was the tallest man in the room.
The chart explains how comparatives and superlatives are formed:
One-syllable adjectives
Two-syllable adjectives ending with l'
Other two-syllable adjectives
Adjectives with three or more syllables
warm
warmer
the warmest
funny
funnier
the funniest
common
more common
the most common
important
more important
the most important
Some two-syllable adjectives have two correct forms of both the comparative and the superlative:
narrower
clever
polite
more narrow
more clever
more polite
narrowest
cleverest
politest
most narrow
most clever
most polite
A "negative" comparison can be expressed with the words less and least. Less and least are used no matter how many syllables an adjective has.
less bright
less expensive
the least bright
the least expensive
The absolute form of a few adjectives ends in -er (tender, bitter, slender, clever, and so on). Don't confuse these with the comparative forms (more bitter or bitterer, for example).
Many adverbs also have comparative and superlative forms. The comparative and superlative forms of all -lyadverbs are formed with more and most.
more brightly
more importantly
most brightly
most importantly
A few adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms:
good/well
better
the best
badlbadly
worse
the worst
far
farther
the farthest
further
the furthest
248 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
(Far has two comparative and superlative forms, depending on how the word is used, but the distinction between these two forms will not be tested.)
There are two main types of errors involving comparatives and superlatives:
A) Incorrect Choice of the Three Forms
Any of the three forms-absolute, comparative, or superlative-may be incorrectly used in place of one of the other forms.
... Sample Items
Basketball is played at a much fast pace than baseball.
ABC 0
The comparative formfaster is needed because two concepts-the pace of basketball and the pace of baseball-are being compared.
The deep oceans contain some of the stranger of all living creatures.
ABC D
This sentence does not compare two groups; a superlative form (strangest) is
required. ....
B) Incorrect Forms of Comparatives and Superlatives
Incorrect forms such as more bigger or most hot may appear.
... Sample Item
The most small vessels in the circulatory system are capillaries.
ABC D
The correct form is smallest because small is a one-syllable adjective. ....
Exercise 41
Focus: Identifying and correcting errors in comparatives and superlatives.
Directions: If the underlined form is correct, mark the sentence C. If the underlined form is incorrect, mark the sentence X and write a correction for the underlined form in the blank at the end of the sentence. The first one is done as an example.
~1. The period is probably the most easiest punctuation mark to use. the easieet
2.When metal replaced wood in the construction of ships' hulls, more strong and large ships could be built. ______
3.Charcoal is the most commonly used cooking fuel in the world. ______
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 249
4.
Soft solder melts at a low temperature than ordinary solder. ______
5.
Many of the nation's most important documents are stored in the National Archives
Building in Washington, D.C. ______
6.
The surfboards used twenty-five years ago were more heavier than the ones used by
surferstoda~ ______
___
7.
Few American politicians have spoken more eloquently than William Jennings Bryan.
___
8.
Subterranean termites are the more destructive type of termites in the United States.
9.Prince Edward Island is the less populous of Canada's ten provinces. ______
10.During a depression, economic conditions are far worst than they are during a recession.
11.One of the most basic American contributions to technology was the so-called "American system" of interchangeable machine parts. ______
12.The horse chestnut has a stronger, bitter taste than other chestnuts. ______
13.Chicago's Field Museum is one of the largest and better known natural history museums in the United States. ______
14.Baltimore has one ofthe world's most frnest natural harbors. ______
15.The Kennedy-Nixon race of 1960 was the closest presidential election of last century.
16.The finback whale is the fastest of all whales, and only the blue whale is largest.
17.The cello is shorter and more slender than the double bass. ______
18.Oil floats on water because oil is less denser than water. ______
250 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
lESSON 42
ERRORS IN WORD ORDER
Most word-order errors in Written Expression consist of two words in reverse order. Some of the most common examples of this type of error are given below:
Noun + adjective
drivers careful
careful drivers
Noun + possessive
clothing women's
women's clothing
Main verb + auxiliary
finished are
are finished
Adjective + adverb
a basic extremely idea
an extremely basic idea
Verb + subject
Tell me where is it.
Tell me where it is.
(in an indirect question
I spoke to John when
I spoke to John when
or other wh- clause)
was he here.
he was here.
Preposition/adverb
after immediately
immediately after
clause marker + adverb
Participle + adverb
baked freshly bread
freshly baked bread
Relative pronoun +
the house which in
the house in which
preposition
she lives
she lives
adverb, adjective, or
totally almost
almost totally
quantifier + almost
late almost
almost late
all almost
almost all
enough + adjective*
enough good
good enough
*Enough can correctly be used before nouns: enough money, enough time. Enough may also be used before an adjective when the adjective comes before a noun. (There weren't enough good seats at the concert.)
.. Sample Items
Goods such as flowers fresh and seafood are often shipped by air.
-- A - BCD
The adjectivefresh must come before the noun flowers: fresh flowers.
Visitors to Vancouver often comment on how beautiful its
A B
setting is and on how clean is it.
C
l)
The correct word order is subject + verb: it is. ....
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 251
Exercise 42.1
Focus: Identifying and correcting word order in sentences.
Directions: If the word order of the underlined form is correct, mark the sentence C. If the word order is incorrect, mark the sentence X and write a correction in the blank at the end of the sentence.
~ 1. The Douglas fir is the source chief of lumber in the state of Oregon. chief so' wce
2.The painted turtle is a colored brightly, smooth-shelled turtle. ______
3.Trained in Europe, John Sargent became an extremely successful portrait painter in the United States. ______
4.Insects lived on the Earth before long the first mammal appeared. ______
5.The freezing point is the temperature which at a liquid becomes a solid. ______
6.Ammonia, a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, has many industrial uses.
___ 7. The Atlantic coastline of the United States is about 400 longer miles than the Gulf coastline. ______
8.Zoos provide an opportunity to study a wide range of animals, often in their habitats natural. ______
9.A test pilot tries out new kinds of aircraft to determine if are they safe. ______
10.The air of the upper atmosphere is just enough dense to ignite meteors by friction.
11.More pigs are raised in Iowa than in other any state. ______
12.Cirrus clouds are composed entirely almost of ice crystals. ______
13.Many sailboats are equipped with small engines for times when there is not enough wind. _______
14.Few of the doctors in the thirteen colonies had any training formal as physicians.
___ 15. Margaret Wise Brown was a successful writer of books children's. ______
Exercise 42.2
Focus: Identifying errors involving word order. (Note: One or two items in this exercise do not focus on word-order errors. These are marked in the answer key with an asterisk.)
Directions: Decide which of the four underlined words or phrases-(A), (B), (C), or (D)-would not be considered correct, and write the letter of the expression in the blank. Then, in the line at the end of the sentence, write the correction for the underlined phrase. The first one is done as an example.
~ 1. During pioneer times, the Allegheny Mountains were a barrier major to transportation.
A
- B -
C
0
maior barrier
252Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression
2.In Philadelphia's Franklin Institute, there is a working model of a human heart
ABC
enough large for visitors to walk through. ______
D
___ 3. The task of the cartographer is to represent the Earth's surface at a reduced greatly scale.
-- A - -B- C D
4. Mutualism is a relationship between animal species which in both benefit.
ABC D
5. To grow well, a tree must be well-suited to the area where is it planted. ______
ABC -0-
6. The development of transistors made possible it to reduce the size of many
ABC electronic devices. ______
D
___ 7. Twelve drawings usually have to be prepared for second each of animated film.
ABC D
8. Today many garden vegetables have few resemblance to the wild plants from which
ABC D they come. ______
___ 9. Sloths are moving slow, shaggy mammals that are often seen hanging upside down from
ABC tree limbs. ______
D
10. Carbohydrates as such sugar or starches are important energy sources for
ABC humans and animals. ______
D
11. On nights when is the sky clear and the air calm, the Earth's surface rapidly radiates heat
ABC D into the atmosphere. ______
12. Frank Lloyd Wright is known for his original highly methods of harmonizing buildings
