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Lecture 22: Split Structure

Graduate English Study Notes: Lecture 22: Split Structure. Retain original formulas, diagrams, and example questions.

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Graduate Entrance Examination EnglishEnglish GrammarComplex-Sentence Analysis
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22.0 Introduction

Three Types of Special Structures

  • Section 1: Split structures
  • Section 2: Nested structures
  • Section 3: Parallel structures
  • It is based on ordinary long and complex sentences with some variations;
  • First restore the underlying structure, then apply the usual segment + simplify method;

22.1 What is a split structure?

Split Structures

  • Overview:
  • Related parts of the core clause may be separated by inserted or postposed material;
  • Core:
  • Find division and restore coherence;
  • Method:
  • Identify the intervening material, reconnect the separated core elements, and then analyze the full sentence normally;
  • 1. Parenthetical split: temporarily set aside material marked by paired punctuation;
  • 2. Postposed-clause split: move the delayed clause mentally back beside the element it completes or modifies;

22.2 Parenthetical Split Structures

22.2.1 Split structures caused by appositive and parenthetical expressions

Appositive and Parenthetical

  • Appositive: identifies or explains the preceding noun phrase;
  • Parenthetical: Structurally, inserted into a sentence for explanation;
  • However: When analyzing complex sentences, there is no need to distinguish between the two. Just recognize the inserted components;
  • Features:
  • Frequently paired punctuation;

Examples

  • Bob Liodice, the chief executive of the Association of National Advertisers, says consumers will be worse off if the industry cannot collect information about their preferences.
  • The appositive between commas identifies Bob Liodice and supplies background information;
  • After removing this part, the content is coherent:
  • Bob Liodice … says consumers will be worse off if the industry cannot collect information about their preferences.
  • Count the finite verbs:
  • says, will be, cannot collect;
  • Connective: if
  • Clause analysis:
  • Bob Liodice … says consumers will be worse off
  • Subject-predicate structure;
  • After segmentation:
  • Bob Liodice … says
  • consumers will be worse off
  • After analyzing it, retrieve the appositive and parenthetical words and continue reading;
  • These benefactors have succeeded in their chosen fields, they say, and they want to use their wealth to draw attention to those who have succeeded in science.
  • Remove the parenthetical phrase they say;
  • These benefactors have succeeded in their chosen fields and they want to use their wealth to draw attention to those who have succeeded in science.
  • Analyzing finite verbs:
  • have succeeded
  • want
  • have succeeded
  • Can be split into three sections:
  • Conjunctions: and, who
  • These benefactors have succeeded in their chosen fields
  • and they want to use their wealth to draw attention to those
  • Who have succeeded in science.
  • Yet it is precisely these non-celebrity influentials who, according to the two-step flow theory, are supposed to drive social epidemics by influencing their friends and colleagues directly.

22.2.2 Split Structures Caused by Postposed Clauses

Concept

  • Three positions of adverbial clauses:
  • Front, back, middle;
  • In translation, an adverbial clause may be rendered before or after the main clause according to the natural information flow;

Examples

  • Peter Hardy, who sympathizes with the views of the energy sector, is resisting proposed changes to science standards for pre-teen pupils.
  • Inserted part: who sympathizes with the views of the energy sector
  • Segmentation:
  • Peter Hardy…is resisting proposed changes to science standards for pre-teen pupils.
  • who sympathizes with the views of the energy sector
  • Yet these creatures are members of the biotic community and, if its stability depends on its integrity, they are entitled to continuance.
  • Yet these creatures are members of the biotic community
  • and… they are entitled to continuance.
  • if its stability depends on its integrity
  • Branch points out that, even if a growing number of official guidelines and textbooks reflect scientific consensus on climate change, unofficial educational materials that convey more biased perspectives are being distributed to teachers.
  • Branch points out
  • that … unofficial educational materials … are being distributed to teachers.
  • that convey more biased perspectives
  • even if a growing number of official guidelines and textbooks reflect scientific consensus on climate change.

22.3 Postponed Clause Split Structure

Examples

  • Contrary to the descriptions on record, no systematic evidence was found that levels of productivity were related to changes in lighting.
  • Clause: 'levels of productivity were related to changes in lighting ->' Explain the previous 'evidence' -> clause moved after 'was found';
  • After moving back:
  • Contrary to the descriptions on record, no systematic evidence that levels of productivity were related to changes in lighting was found.
  • In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more Than 300 business method patents...
  • Where there is a gap between noted and clause in a court filing;
  • Therefore, you can move forward:
  • In 2005, IBM noted that it had been issued more than 300 business method patents in a court filing...

22.4 Past-Paper Practice

Examples

  • What is being called artificial general intelligence, machines that would mimic the way humans think, continues to evade scientists
  • Split structures caused by parenthetical material;
  • Sentences are coherent:
  • What is being called artificial general intelligence... Continues to evade scientists.
  • evade: to escape, to make... confused (this question uses this method)
  • Parenthetical element:
  • machines that would mimic the way humans think - > Explanation of the term artificial general intelligence;
  • When one of these noneconomic categories is threatened and, if we happen to love it, we invent excuses to give it economic importance.
  • noneconomic: having no economic value;
  • Inserted content: Conditional adverbial clause
  • When a species without economic value is threatened, we give it an excuse to make it economically valuable;
  • Though typically about two inches taller now than 140 years ago, today's people-especially those born to families who have lived in the U.S.for many generations-apparently reached their limit in the early 1960 s.
  • especially those born to families who have lived in the U.S. for many generations -> Explain the term 'today's people' in a limited meaning;
  • Concerns were raised that witnesses might be encouraged to exaggerate their stories in court to ensure guilty verdicts.
  • Clause: that witnesses might be encouraged to exaggerate their stories in court to ensure guilty verdicts -> originally used to explain concerns;
  • But moved backward to the back of were raised;
  • Move forward:
  • Concerns that witnesses might be encouraged to exaggerate Their stories in court to ensure guilty verdicts were raised
  • This, though it fulfills the laws and requirements ofFuturist poetry, can hardly be classed as Literature.
  • This -> The content following the subject -> is inserted
  • Main clause: this can hardly be classed as Literature
  • Clause: though it fulfills the laws and requirements of Futurist poetry -> Explain why it is difficult;
  • If connections can be bought, a basic premise of democratic society that all are equal in treatment by is undermined government
  • One more reason not to lose sleep over the rise in oil prices is that, unlike the rises in the 1970 s, it has not occurred against the background of general commodity-price inflation and global excess demand.