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eWriting > Functional Grammar > 4.4 Self-Test B
1. I find it hard to follow lectures when technical jargon is used. Finite verb Clause 1 Finite verb Clause 2 Subordinating conjunction
The finite verbs have been put in italics and the subordinating conjunctions have been put in bold. (Remember there needs to be at one finite verb or verb group for each clause.) 1. I find it hard to follow lectures when technical jargon is used.
Note the use of the passive in the subordinate (or dependent) clause. The 'doer', or in this case, the 'user' of technical jargon does not need to be expressed.
2. While you are reading for assignments, it is essential to make clear notes. Finite verb Clause 1 Finite verb Clause 2 Subordinating conjunction
The finite verbs have been put in italics and the subordinating conjunctions have been put in bold. (Remember there needs to be at one finite verb or verb group for each clause.) 2. While you are reading for assignments, it is essential to make clear notes.
The subordinate clause comes first in this sentence. It is good style to vary sentence structure and sometimes put the dependent clause first, but be careful not to forget to add the main clause, otherwise there will be an incomplete sentence whose meaning is not clear.
3. The tuba and French horn, which are brass instruments, are an important part of the orchestra. Finite verb Clause 1 Finite verb Clause 2 Subordinating conjunction
The finite verbs have been put in italics and the subordinating conjunctions have been put in bold. (Remember there needs to be at one finite verb or verb group for each clause.) The tuba and French horn, which are brass instruments, are an important part of the orchestra.
This sentence has an embedded clause introduced by the relative pronoun 'which'. The embedded clause is clearly dependent on the main clause 'the tuba and French horn are an important part of the orchestra' for its meaning to be clear. 'Which' in this case acts as a subordinating conjunction.
4. Because Liz missed the lecture, she's finding this essay hard to do. Finite verb Clause 1 Finite verb Clause 2 Subordinating conjunction
The finite verbs have been put in italics and the subordinating conjunctions have been put in bold. (Remember there needs to be at one finite verb or verb group for each clause.) Because Liz missed the lecture, she's finding this essay hard to do.
Note the contraction of the verb group 'is finding' to 's finding'. In formal writing, words should be written in full and not abbreviated.
5. I couldn't find my tutorial group as the lists weren't up on the board. Finite verb Clause 1 Finite verb Clause 2 Subordinating conjunction
The finite verbs have been put in italics and the subordinating conjunctions have been put in bold. (Remember there needs to be at one finite verb or verb group for each clause.) I couldn't find my tutorial group as the lists weren't up on the board.
Note again the use of contractions with both verb groups in this sentence.
6. Whereas 'top down' approaches to teaching reading take the learner into account, 'bottom up' ones are concerned only with the skills to be learned. Finite verb Clause 1 Finite verb Clause 2 Subordinating conjunction
The finite verbs have been put in italics and the subordinating conjunctions have been put in bold. (Remember there needs to be at one finite verb or verb group for each clause.) Whereas 'top down' approaches to teaching reading take the learner into account, 'bottom up' ones are concerned only with the skills to be learned.
Note that the phrasal verbs in the first clause.