Idiomatic Expressions
Even though Sasha tried to unwrap it as carefully __ she could, the vase still cracked in the box.
What is as?
She placed all of her tchotchkes on the mantle and admired her collection once she sat down in her comfy chair.
Two ways to connect two independent clauses.
Identify the modifier:
Despite spraining her ankle, our first mate was able to navigate our schooner into port.
What is "despite spraining her ankle"?
Find the prepositional phrase: The rooms below deck had no air conditioning.
What is below deck?
After being interrogated by the police for five hours, Ken admitted (to being/to be) guilty of racketeering and money laundering.
What is to being?
Within this area, a subregion in the left hemisphere known as the “visual word form area” (VWFA) shows a particular selectivity for written words. However, this region is characteristically plastic. It’s been proposed that stimuli compete for representation in this malleable area, such that “winner takes all” depending on the strongest input.
What is adaptable?
Two independent clauses connected by a comma is called this.
What is a comma splice?
Tell me the subject of the modifier:
Although mildly discolored by the harsh sunlight, the sofa has retained much of its original beauty.
What is the sofa?
We are all concerned ____ your decision to drop out of school.
What is about?
She speaks not only English _____ French, Italian, and German.
What is but also?
Genetic investigations into the origins of human life most often focus on mitochondrial DNA. As opposed to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA is transmitted only from the mother. This allows for the tracing of mutations that arise independently of changes that occur because of the combining of the mother’s and father’s DNA.
What is tracking?
Fix this sentence:
A consistent program of vigorous aerobic exercise maintains cardiovascular health, it also helps your brain to work more effectively.
A consistent program of vigorous aerobic exercise maintains cardiovascular health and helps your brain to work more effectively.
Fix the modifier issue:
Exhausted from the day's climbing, the looming storm forced the hikers to pitch an early camp.
Exhausted from the day's climbing, the hikers pitched an early camp to hide from the looming storm.
Eleanor has always been concerned ____ feminist issues.
What is with?
Even though she was expected (doing/to do) all of the domestic labor, Natasha was unwilling to conform to traditional gender roles.
What is to do?
But although she was silent, she was evidently mistress of a situation which was familiar enough to her, and inclined to let it take its way for the six hundredth time, perhaps, without bringing into play any of her unoccupied faculties.
Fix this sentence:
These chemicals are not at dangerous levels for human health they may harm the bees in the long run.
Example: These chemicals are not at dangerous levels for human health, but they may harm the bees in the long run.
Identify the modifier:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the preposition that all men are created equal.
What is "conceived in liberty" or "dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal"?
We were very angry ___ him for ignoring our phone calls.
What is with?
What's the difference between caring for someone and caring about someone?
Caring for=keeping someone safe
Caring about=thinking someone is important
They were a remarkably fine family, the sons very well-looking, the daughters decidedly handsome, and all of them well-grown and forward of their age, which produced as striking a difference between the cousins in person, as education had given to their address.
What is speech?
Combine these sentences:
Confederates in the Attic has received widespread critical acclaim. It was written by Tony Horwitz. It portrays the legacy of the Civil War in the modern South. It is poignant and funny.
Example:
Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz has received widespread critical acclaim; it portrays the legacy the legacy of the Civil War in the modern South in a poignant and funny way.
Fix the modifier issue:
Although printed cheaply and for quick consumption, today's experience of culture is largely shaped by dime novels.
Although printed cheaply and for quick consumption, dime novels have shaped the way we experience culture today.
Her tests include questions that seem very different ____ those that we see in the homework.