- English Writing Courses : How to Write English Simple Sentences

English Writing Courses: writing English simple sentences.

The topic in this series of English Writing Courses is writing English simple sentences. In English language, a sentence must have at least a subject an a verb. This is a particular character of English sentences. That is why in the English nominal sentence (the sentence which does not have a verb) the characteristic must be applied. English has the so called Auxiliary Verb (the helping verb, ). The auxiliary verb be (am, is, are, was, were) is used to fulfill the requirement that English sentences must have at least subject and verb. The other languages do not always have such a characteristic. Indonesian language, for example, does not have auxiliary verb. Compare the following English simple sentence and Indonesian simple sentence.

1. My father is a teacher.
--Ayahku seorang guru.

2. John is happy.
-- John bahagia.

3. My friends are in my house.
--> Temanku di rumahku.

Referreing to the examples above, Indonesian learners learning English often make the wrong English sentences as follows:

1. *My father a teacher.

2. *John happy.

3. *My friends in my house.


The wrong English sentences made by Indonesian learners above are influenced by the stcructure of indonesian language which does not need auxiliary be. The wrong sentences above are paralel to the following Indonesian sentences :

1. Ayahku seorang guru.
1. *My father a teacher.

2. John bahagia.
2. *John happy.

3. Temanku di rumahku.
3. *My friends in my house.

- Rewrite and correct the following sentences.

Example:
I buy two book.
I buy two books. (the answer)

1. My uncle work in a big office.
___________________________________________
2.That people are the students of Ahmad Dahlan University.
___________________________________________________________
3. Water are important for our life.
_____________________________________

4. Was he play badminton three days ago?
______________________________________
5. Umar always takes her wife to the market before he goes to his office.
________________________________________________________
6. Each students of Ahmad Dahlan University must attend the general lecture.
____________________________________________________________
7. My father and me went to Canada two weeks ago.
________________________________________________
8. I came here together with, Andy, John, and she.
________________________________________________
9. Does he see several plays when he was in New York?
___________________________________________________
10. One of these very good English books are very expensive.
_________________________________________________________

- The answer Key Of The Exercises Of Passive Sentence (Past Tense)

A. Change The sentences below into passive.

1. My father swept the floor.
--> The floor was swept by my father.

2. Jonathan cleaned my room.
--> My room was cleaned by Jonathan.

3. He read the novel last year.
--> The novel was read by him last year.

4. The people broke the old house.
--> The old house was broken by the people.

5. That man sold traditional medicine.
--> Traditional medicine was sold by that man.

B. Translate the following passive sentences into English.

1. Rumahku dibangun tahun 1997.
--> My house was built in 1997.

2. Novel ini ditulis sepuluh tahun yang lalu.
--> This novel was written ten years ago.

3. Sejarah diajar oleh pak Ali tahun lalu.
--> Hystory was taught Mr. Ali last year.

4. Mobilku dijual bulan lalu.
--> My car was sold last month.

5. Radioku direparasi minggu lalu.
--> My radio was repaired last week.

- The Answer key of Exercises of English Passive Sentences (Present Continuous Tense)

Exercises:

A. Change The sentences below into passive.

1. My father is sweeping the floor.
--> The floor is being swept by my father.

2. Jonathan is cleaning my room.
--> My room is being cleaned by Jonathan.

3. He is reading a novel.
--> A novel is being read by him.

4. The people are breaking the old house.
--> The old house is being broken by the people.

5. That man is selling traditional medicine.
--> Traditional medicine is being sold by that man.

B. Translate the following passive sentences into English.

1. Kamarku sedang dicat oleh teman-temanku.
--> My room is being painted by my friends.

2. Sebuah laporan sedang di tulis oleh pak Agus.
--> A report is being written by Mr. Agus.

3. Makan malam sedang dimasak oleh ibuku.
--> The dinner is being cooked by my mother.

4. Sebuah lemari sedang dibuat pamanku.
--> A cupboard is being made by my uncle.
5. PR sedang dikerjakan oleh anak laki-laki saya.

- Answer Key of the exercise of Passive sentence (present Tense)

1. She writes a letter every week.
--> A letter is written by her everyweek.

2. Edi cleans the room every morning.
--> The room is cleaned by Edi every morning.

3. My father teaches English.
--> English is taught by my father.

4. Ahmad buys a new car every year.
--> A new car is bought by Ahmad every year.

5. His mother sends money every month.
--> Money is sent by his mother every month.

Exercise: Rewrite and correct the following sentences. Number one is done for you.

01. I buy two book.
I buy two books.

02. My uncle work in a big office.
_________________________
03. That people are the students of Ahmad Dahlan University.
_______________________________________________
04. Water are important for our life.
__________________________
05. Was he play badminton three days ago?
__________________________________
06. Umar always takes her wife to the market before he goes to his office.
________________________________________________________
07. Each students of Ahmad Dahlan University must attend the general lecture.
____________________________________________________________
08. The meeting is very bad organized.
____________________________
09. I need an umbrella because it raining.
______________________________
10. Does he see several plays when he was in New York?
___________________________________________
11. That loud music sounds badly to me.
_____________________________