Structure
Core concepts
Structure covers how sentences and paragraphs are built. At sentence level, know the difference between a phrase (no subject–verb pair) and a clause; between simple, compound and complex sentences; and the rules for subject–verb agreement (watch collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and phrases sitting between subject and verb), pronoun agreement, and parallelism in lists and comparisons. Punctuation belongs here too: commas around non-defining clauses, semicolons between related main clauses, and no comma splice. At paragraph level, look for a topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a linking word signalling contrast, cause or addition (however, therefore, similarly).
Traps
- Dangling or misplaced modifiers: an opening participle must describe the subject of the main clause.
- Comma splices and run-ons joining two main clauses with only a comma.
- Broken parallelism: "she enjoys swimming, cycling and to run".
- Transition words signalling the wrong relationship, such as however where the ideas actually agree.
Worked example
"Walking to the station, the rain soaked my coat." The modifier walking appears to describe the rain. Repair it by naming the real subject of the action: "Walking to the station, I was soaked by the rain."
Rule of thumb
Read the shortest version first: find each subject and its verb, check that they agree, then check that every describing phrase sits next to the word it describes.