Business writing: Grammar workshop 3

Improving Business Writing

Writing Workshop Series: Grammar Skills

December 3, 2015 Rachael Walker

Overview

Part 2: Context

ConditionalProblems hit listDescribing change

Conditional and Subjunctive

Backslide

Future

Backslide

Future Possible

Backslide

Future

I will win tomorrow.

Possible

Backslide

Future

I hope

Possible

Backslide

Future

I hope I win tomorrow.

Possible

Backslide

Future

I hope I win tomorrow.

Possible

Backslide

Future Possible

Backslide

Future

You will give a mouse a cookie.

Possible

Backslide

Future

If you give a mouse a cookie, he will want a glass of milk.

Possible

Backslide

Future

Possible

Backslide

Future

Possible

Future (possible)Future or present (impossible)Past

In use

Present

Backslide

Present impossible

Backslide

Present

I have a dog.

impossible

Backslide

Present

I have a dog now.

I wish

impossible

Backslide

Present

I have a dog now.

I wish I had a dog now.

impossible

Backslide

Present

I have a dog now.

I wish I had a dog now.

impossible

Backslide

Future

impossible

Backslide

Future

I will win $1million.

impossible

Backslide

Future

I wish

impossible

Backslide

Future

I wish I would win $1million.

impossible

Backslide

Future

I wish I would win $1million.

impossible

Backslide

Future impossible

Backslide

Future

impossible

Backslide

Future

If I won $1million,

impossible

Backslide

Future

If I won $1million, I would be happy.

impossibleFuture possible

Future

If I win tomorrow, I will be happy.

Future

impossiblePresent impossible

Future

I have a dog.

Future

I have a dog.

If I had a dog, I would be happy.

Backslide

I am taller.

Backslide

I am taller.

I wish I were taller.

Backslide

I am taller.

I wish I were taller.

If I were taller I would play basketball

Backslide

In use

Backslide

I studied in high school.

Backslide

I wish I had studied in high school.

Backslide

I wish I had studied in high school.

Backslide

If I had studied

Backslide

If I had studied, I would have graduated early.

Backslide

If I had studied, I would have graduated early.would did

Backslide

Future

impossible

Future

impossiblePast

Future

impossiblePast

I studied.

Future

impossiblePast

I studied.

If I had studied, I would have graduated early.

Future PossibleIf I win tomorrow,

Backslide

Future PossibleIf I win tomorrow, I will be happy.

Backslide

Future ImpossibleIf I won $1million,

Backslide

Future ImpossibleIf I won $1million, I would be happy.

Backslide

PastIf I had won $1million,

Backslide

PastIf I had won $1milliom, I would have been happy.

Backslide

In use

Stating a general rule

Stating a general ruleFuture speculations

Stating a general ruleFuture speculationsPromises and threats

Stating a general ruleFuture speculationsPromises and threatsImagining

Stating a general ruleFuture speculationsPromises and threatsImaginingBargaining

Stating a general ruleFuture speculationsPromises and threatsImaginingBargainingPast speculation

Varying language

Conditional in Context

Stating a general rule or habit

Simple present:

Stating a general rule or habit (Zero Conditional)

Simple present:

When she arrives at work, she checks her email.

Simple present:

If you order bulk, you get a discount.

Simple present:

If you order bulk, you get a discount.

If the paperwork is incomplete, the order is usually delayed.

Varying language

Speculating about the future

Future possible:

If we implement the new system, there will be a marked increase in efficiency.

Future possible:

If we implement the new system, there will be a marked increase in efficiency.

If we fail to update the database, we will lose revenue.

Varying language

Unless and if

Unless and ifUnless = if + not

If we do not update the database...

Unless we update the database...

we will lose revenue.

Promises, warnings, and threats

Future possible

Promise

Future possible

Promise

Warning

Future possible

Promise

Warning

Threat

Future possible

Promise If you order now you will get a free gift!

Warning

Threat

Future possible

Warning We will not continue with production unless the factory complies with our request.

Threat

Future possible

Threat

Future possible

Threat Unless we receive payment this week, we willbe forced to pursue legal action.

Varying language

Imagining

Unlikely or impossible

Imagining

Unlikely or impossible

If we hired an agency, we would recover debt more easily.

Imagining

Less probable situations

Imagining

If we hired an agency, we would recover debt more easily.

Imagining

If we hired an agency, we would recover debt more easily. we could recover debt more easily.

Imagining

If we hired an agency, we would recover debt more easily. we could recover debt more easily. we might recover debt more easily.

Imagining

If we hired an agency, we would recover debt more easily. we could recover debt more easily. we might recover debt more easily.

What would happen if the stock market crashed?

Varying language

Bargaining

If you give a us a 5% discount, we will make a repeat order.

Bargaining

If you give a us a 5% discount, we will make a repeat order.

If you gave us a 5% discount, we would make a repeat order.

Varying language

Past speculation

If the price-earnings ration had been higher, we would have purchased more shares.

Past speculation

If the price-earnings ratio had been higher, we would have purchased more shares.

Past speculation

Had we anticipated the power failure, we would have updated sooner.

Past speculation

The program could have succeeded if management had been competent.

Past speculation

The program could have succeeded if management had been competent.

Varying language

Conditional in context

Varying language

Provided (that)

Varying language

Provided (that)On condition that

Varying language

Provided (that)On condition thatIn case of

Varying language

Provided (that)On condition thatIn case of

Provided they don't renege on their offer, we will sign the contract next week.

Conditionals in Context

Varying language

Mixed conditionals

Varying language

Mixed conditionals

If the factory weren't so far from here (present) we would have bought it already. (past)

If we had bought it earlier (past)we wouldn't need to deal with Mr. Smith. (present)

Varying language

Mixed conditionals

If the factory weren't so far from here (present)

Varying language

Mixed conditionals

Varying language

Mixed conditionals

If we had bought it earlier (past)

Varying language

Mixed conditionals

If we had bought it earlier (past)we wouldn't need to deal with Mr. Smith. (present)

Polite requests

If you will come this way, I'll show you to your office.

Polite requests

If you will come this way, I'll show you to your office.If you come this way,

We would be grateful if you would please refrain from spreading the news just yet.

Polite requests

If you will come this way, I'll show you to your office.If you come this way,

Dear Abby Activity

Phase One – Write a letter to Dear Abby

1. You forgot to lock your car and as a result, your books were stolen from the back seat. How could you have avoided having your books stolen?

2. You were absent from class on Monday when the teacher told the class there would be a test on Tuesday. How could you have avoided failing the test?

3. Your dog always barks late at night. As a result, your neighbor has threatened to kill the dog. What will save your dog’s life?

4. You were out having a good time. On your way home, a policeman gave you a ticket for speeding. How could you have avoided getting a ticket?

5. Although you know that you are not a very good cook, you prepared dinner for all of your friends. As a result, all of your friends got sick and had to be taken to the hospital. How could this situation have been avoided?

7. Every time you go shopping, you go at 5:00 when the store is busiest. As a result, you always have to stand in a long check-out line. How can you avoid standing in a long line the next time you go to the store?

Phase Two – Switch and respond

Overview

Part 2: ContextConditionalDescribing changePrepositions activitySpeculationProblems hit list

Describing change

Past trends

Present trends

Key words

Describing change

Past trends

Present trends

Key words

Describing change

Past trendsFinished

Simple pastNike's market share increased by from April to May.

Describing change

Past trendsContext

Past ContinuousNike's stock was increasing when she bought the shares.

Describing change

Past trendsInterruption

Past perfect continuousNike's stock had increased by 5% when she bought the

shares.

Describing change

Past trendsUsing numbers

Past perfectNike's stock had been increasing when she bought the

shares.

Describing change

Past trends

Present trends

Key words

Graphics

Present TrendsOngoing change

Present continuous Nike's market share is increasing.Nike's market share increased.

Graphics

Present TrendsOngoing change

Present perfect Nike's market share has increased.Nike's market share has been increasing.Nike's market share is increasing.

Describing change

Present trendsUsing numbers

Nike's market share has increased by 5%.

Describing change

Past trends

Present trends

Key words

Describing change

Key wordsHow long

Time until now

Describing change

Key wordsHow long

DuringFromUntilFor

Time until now

Describing change

How long?During

During the first few years we broke even.During the first few years we were breaking even.

Describing change

How long?From

From 1991 – 1999 the economy improved dramatically.From 1991 – 1999 the .com bubble was inflating.

Describing change

How long?Until

The economy seemed healthy until the bubble burst.The economy was growing rapidly until the bubble burst.The economy had been growing rapidly until the bubble

burst.

Describing change

How long?Until

The economy seemed healthy until the bubble burst.The economy was growing rapidly until the bubble burst.The economy had been growing rapidly until the bubble

burst.

Describing change

How long?For

Length of time Length of time Length of time

Now Now Now

Describing change

How long?We will target the new demographic for 6 months.We targeted the new demographic for 6 months.We have targeted the new demographic for 6 months.We have been targeting the new demographic for 6 months.

Describing change

Key words

How long

Time until nowSinceOver

Describing change

Time until nowSince

The new system has been in operation since 2010.They have been learning to operate the machinery

since April.

Describing change

Time until nowOver

Over the last five years, the business has grown.Over the last five years, the business has been growing.Over those years, the business grew.

Overview

Part 2: ContextConditionalDescribing changePrepositions activityGetting things doneProblems hit list

Prepositions of change

____ the end of April, sales stood ____ $150 million, having risen _______ a low point ______ just _______ $100 million.

_______ the next couple of months, they rose steadily to reach a peak ______ $190 million. They then fell sharply _____ $35 million towards the end of July, but have crept up _____ $160 since then.

of to by at under from over

Overview

Part 2: ContextConditionalDescribing changePrepositions activityGetting things doneProblems hit list

Getting Things Done

Have something done

Emphasis

Language variety

Getting Things Done

PassiveThey are having their boilers cleaned.They get them cleaned every year.They have always had them cleaned on site.

Getting Things Done

PassiveRequests

Could you have this authorized for me?

Getting Things Done

Have something done

Emphasis

Language variety

Getting Things done

PassiveThe telephone was invented by Graham Bell.

We had the catering staff prepare the meal.They have had IT update the operating system twice.

I got maintenance to test to air conditioning.

Getting Things Done

Have something done

Emphasis

Language variety

Getting Things Done

Linguistic varietyDone:

attend to contend with deal with follow up onhandle process see to take care of

There are many things to attend to before the fair.All orders are processed in three days.

Overview

Part 2: ContextConditionalDescribing changePrepositions activityGetting things doneSuggestionsProblems hit list

Problems Hit List

Which / that

Lay / lie

Fewer / less

Amount / number

Then / than

Who / whom

Affect / effect

Continual / continuous

Whether / if

Different from / different than

Farther / further

eg. / i.e.

Problem Hit list

ThatRestricts – I don't trust fruits that aren't organic.

WhichQualifies – I recommend organic fruits, which are available in

most grocery stores.

Problem Hit list

ThatRestricts – The house that is burning is mine.

WhichQualifies –The house which is burning is mine.

Problem Hit list

LayDirect object Lay the pencil down.

LieNo direct objectI'm going to lie down.

Problem Hit list

FewerCountableThe firm has fewer employees.

LessUncountableI have less work to do today.

Problem Hit list

Number CountableThe number of employees is growing.

AmountUncountableThe amount of work is unbearable.

Problem Hit list

Than ComparativeThe price is higher than is was last year.

ThenTimeThey will change the system, then they will fix

unforeseen problems.

Problem Hit list

Who Subject pronoun (he)Who is coming? (He is coming.)

WhomPredicate pronoun (him)Whom should I invite? (I should invite him.)To whom should this be addressed?

Problem Hit list

Affect VerbThe situation affected earnings.

EffectNounThe situation had an effect on earnings.

Problem Hit list

Continual Always (repeatedly)They are continually monitoring safety.

ContinuousNo stopsThe continuous noise has caused employee

complaints.

Problem Hit list

Nor And not

Neither the manager nor the employees have the password.

The factory does not have a cafeteria or vending machines.

The factory has has neither a cafeteria nor vending machines.

Problem Hit list

Whether AlternativesIt is unclear whether the manager will be let go.

IfNo alternativesIf the manager is let go, they will have to replace him

quickly.

Problem Hit list

Different from Preposition (noun)The new manager is different from the last.

Different thanClause (clause indicator)The college is different than when I was in school.

Problem Hit list

Farther Measurable distanceThe new site is farther from HQ.

FurtherAbstract distanceThe policy was terminated before further damage

could be caused.

Problem Hit list

e.g. “For example”HR has several serious problems, e.g. the ability to

efficiently replace managers.

i.e.“In other words” He objects to the changes, i.e. he will not accept

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