English for Agriculture unit 4 STAPLE CROPS grammar

Compound Sentences

using although / though / even though

Remember this sentence from the reading in this lesson:
Although there are thousands of cereal types, only a few are cultivated.
This is an example of a compound sentence.  This sentence could be written as two sentences using 'However,' to start the second sentence, like this:
There are thousands of cereal types.  However, only a few are cultivated.
Compound sentences contain two verbs and sometimes two subjects.  They express two ideas or points.
If we want to make a compound sentence, we use but or although.

• although is similar to but
• although can be used at the start of sentences or between phrases.
• but should not be used at the start of sentences.

Examples:

1. There are thousands of cereal types, but only a few are cultivated.
2. There are thousands of cereal types, although only a few are cultivated.
3. Although there are thousands of cereal types, only a few are cultivated.

Please note:

• the position of the comma (,)
• although can be replaced with though or even though.

To illustrate, Example 2 can also be written as follows:

There are thousands of cereal types, though only a few are cultivated.

using such as / for example

Look at these sentences taken from the reading in this lesson:

1. Many people eat animal products such as meat, milk, eggs and fish.
2. Rice consumption has declined in wealthier countries such as Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand.

Please note that:

• such as has the same meaning as for example, including and like.
• such as and including have the same usage
• like is more common in spoken English
• for example is usually placed between a comma and a colon (:) .

To illustrate,

Many people eat animal, for example: meat, milk, eggs and fish.

Rice comsumption has declined in wealthier countries, for example: Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand.

• such as and for example introduce a partial account - not a complete one.  In the above examples, there are more animal products than the 4 mentioned, and there are more wealthier rice-consuming countries than the 3 mentioned.

To illustrate,

ASEAN is comprised of many countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. (partial account)

ASEAN is comprised of 10 countries.  These are Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. (complete list)

• we cannot use such as, including or for example when we provide the complete list.