Chaining the stages of a process
Posted by pakguru on April 20th, 2019 | 0 comments | grammar, IELTS, participle clauses, process description, Task 1, writing
Cement production comprises 5 stages, started from mixing materials and ended with packaging.
This writer has attempted to combine three sentences in one:
- Cement production comprises 5 stages.
- Cement production starts with mixing materials.
- Cement production ends with packaging.
Before we continue, do you know why I chose the photo of daisies for the featured image of this post? Answers in the comments box below!
How it should be done and why
- Cement production comprises 5 stages, starting with mixing materials and ending with packaging.
Notice the following features:
- Same subject is implied before each ‘_ing’ (cement production).
- The subject is the name of a sequence of events.
- Active voice
- Preposition with
Active/passive?
Try to imagine the long sentence as a series of shorter sentences, each with the same subject. If the verbs in the short sentences are active then they will acquire the ‘_ing’ form when the sentences are joined together. Compare the following:
- Cement production comprises 5 stages.
- Cement production starts with mixing materials.
- Cement production ends with packaging.
- Cement production comprises 5 stages, starting with mixing materials and ending with packaging.
If you change the subject as a way to connect stages, passive voice may be necessary:
- Cement production comprises 5 stages.
- Cement production starts with mixing materials.
- Mixing materials is followed by adding water.
- Cement production ends with packaging.
- Cement production comprises 5 stages, starting with mixing materials, followed by adding water and ending with packaging.
Why ‘with’?
- start + at + time
- start + from + place
- start + with + not a time or place
Conclusion
Using participle clauses – clauses that begin with ‘_ing’ or ‘_ed’ – in IELTS writing enables you to:
- avoid repetition
- combine shorter sentences
- summarise/paraphrase
- achieve structural sophistication
All of this will of course help to increase your score in IELTS writing Task 1 and Task 2!
Practice
Here’s a challenge. Try to make a single sentence out of these shorter sentences!
- Study abroad involves a lot of preparation.
- Study abroad begins with a scholarship application.
- Study abroad involves interviews.
- Study abroad may require you to improve your English.
- Study abroad involves a lot of hard study.
- Study abroad gets you the qualification you need!
Answers in the comments box below!
Leave a Reply