| Most of the errors here are caused by
topicalization; that is putting what is
considered to be the most important word or
phrase at the beginning of a sentence.
Topicalization often has the effect of bringing
the object to the beginning of a statement. Generally
speaking, putting objective information at the
beginning of a sentence (so that it occupies the
place normally reserved for the subject),
unintentionally adds emphasis to that
information. You can highlight a topic in
English, but this should be done by using a
special fronting device. If we take
the example below, we could emphasize matter
in the following ways:
Regarding that
matter, I am responsible.
Or
With regard to that
matter, I am responsible.
You cannot use devices like concerning or
for as in:
7 Concerning my written assignment, it
is very difficult.
And
7
For some written
assignments, they are very difficult.
These constructions are not acceptable
English. They sound too strong. Delete the
device, comma and pronoun to produce:
My written assignment is
very difficult.
And
Some written assignments
are very difficult.
You should note that introducing a topic with for
is not always unacceptable. For example:
For many people, summer is
the most enjoyable season.
But it would be wrong to express this as:
7 For many people, they find summer
the most enjoyable season.
There are other way in which you may
unintentionally topicalize. For example:
7 Take too little exercise, it is
dangerous to health.
Remember, in English, you cannot begin a
statement with a pure verb form because a verb
cannot occupy the sentence-initial (subject)
position. You could use a non-finite verb form,
however, since this functions as a noun and can,
therefore, be placed in normal subject position
at the beginning of the sentence:
Taking too little
exercise is dangerous to health.
You could instead begin with a personal
subject:
You will endanger
your health if you take too little exercise.
Or with an impersonal (dummy) subject:
It is dangerous to
health to take too little exercise.
Another way of satisfying the requirement of
English to have the subject position adequately
occupied is to use the dummy one (although
this is rather old-fashioned now):
One will endanger
ones health if one takes too little
exercise.
Note the repetition - use one
sparingly.
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