Writing tips

April 24

BASIC WRITING SKILLS

When we write a composition, it is not enough to have good ideas or persuasive arguments. It is important to express them correctly. 

Here you are seven grammar items to take into account:

1. Word order: Subject + Verb + Object + Complements (manner - place - time)

I found the book easily at the library yesterday

2. Time expressions can come at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. Example: Last holiday I was in Bogotá. I was in Bogotá last holiday not, I last holiday was in Bogotá.

3. Don´t separate the verb from its object. Example: Jhon likes music very much. Not Jhon likes very much music.

4. Frequency adverbs (often, always, never) often come before the main verb. Example: you never have English homework. Not, you have never English homework.

5. If a sentence has a direct object and an indirect object, we often place the indirect

object first: "She wrote him a letter" ( "She wrote a letter to him", is possible).

6. Adjectives come before the noun and they have no plural form. Example:

Medellín has many beautiful mountains. Not, Medellín has many beautifuls mountains.

7. Subject-verb agreement: The subject and the verb must agree in number. For example, when the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular:

"She sings well" "they sing well" not, she sing well or they sings well