WORD FORM A Tutor-led presentation

1. WORD FORMA Tutor-led presentation Note: Your tutor will use these slides to model a Grammar Focus presentation in class.

2. Geo-engineering . . . by direct interventioning in the energy . . . . direct intervention not direct interventioning Rule Adjective + Noun = direct + intervention The correct form is intervention. The word form interventioningcould be a student’s inaccurate version of the noun intervention.

3. The enhance reflection of solar radiation caused by . . . . enhanced reflection not enhance reflection Adjective + Noun = enhanced + reflection Rule The past participle form is used as an adjective.

4. Estimates basing on studies . . . . The correct answer is based. • The –ing or gerund form of the verb baseis incorrectly used in this sentence, where the writer supplies additional information on the estimates he is referring to, i.e., those estimates based on studies of clouds of radioactive debris from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons in the 1950s and 1960s • Given this meaning, the past participle form must be used. Rule The past participle form is used in a phrase that provides additional information.

5. It is not wise to unravel our efforts at limitedacid rain by introducing . . . our efforts at limitingacid rain not limited acid rain Rule A noun or gerund (-ing form) is used after the preposition at.

6. that man-made emissions have contribution to this warming . . . . The writer uses parallel that-clause structures in this sentence; the second that-clause is inaccurately constructed. There is good evidence that global temperatures have increased since the beginning of the last century and that man-made emissions have contribution to this warming. The writer suggests that there is good evidence • that global temperatures have increased since the beginning of the last century [Structure of that-clause: that + Noun + Present Perfect Verb] and • that man-made emissions have contributed (not have contribution) to this warming [Structure of that-clause: that + Noun + Present Perfect Verb]

7. insights Possible sources of word form-errors: • A writer is unsure about a word form and irresponsibly creates a new word, or a writer is not aware of various word forms e.g., intervene, intervention, interventionist, interventionism; not interventioning in this particular case or sense. • Careless writing may yield non-parallel structures, e.g., that global temperatures have increased since the beginning of the last century and that man-made emissions have contribution to this warming. • L1 or first language interference, e.g., direct translation from L1 to English, generally yields inaccurate sentences.

8. Strategies for controlling word forms in our writing • Increase our awareness of the nature of word forms in English • Some words in English have multiple forms for the same part of speech. • Different forms are used in different contexts. • We need to read and listen more to English to increase this awareness. • Memorize different word forms and uses

9. These slides were prepared by Ma. Luisa Culiat-Sadorra, ES1102 team 2010/2011.