TASK ONE GRAMMAR: MAPS – TYPE ONE PART TWO
In part one we looked at how to use the correct tense to describe changes across two maps. In part two, we will look at how to connect actions and the effects of actions to make sentences that the examiner will consider more advanced.
STEP TWO: CONNECTING ACTIONS AND EFFECTS TO MAKE ADVANCED SENTENCES
So far, this article has looked at simple sentences. The following section will look at three easy yet effective ways to make the sentences more advanced.
- Stacking verbs
- Using ‘which’
- Using participles
1. Stacking verbs
One of the easiest ways to make a sentence sound more advanced is to use two verbs in succession. When describing maps this is effective when saying ‘what has happened and why’.
The largest area of woodland has been cut down to accommodate a large new hotel and a new sailing club.
The Bug Room will be partitioned to make space for an Africa exhibit
The main building will be extended on the western side to include a butterfly room.
2. Using ‘which’
Which can be used to add details, and/or to provide a reason or effect.
In the south-east, there were three docks at a fishing harbour, connected via a second road named Harbour Street, which ran through two areas of woodland.
The building has been extended, which means the fire exit has been moved.
The security office is opposite the ticket offices and coat room, which are on the left side of the lobby.
The corridor, which runs between the Dinosaur and Amazon rooms, leads to a fire exit.
Using which creates complex sentences, which the examiners will look for when scoring an essay for grammar. It is a good idea to use the structure at least once, but pay careful attention to the verbs so that they agree with the correct subject.
3. Using participles
Participle clauses (see here) can be used instead of a ‘which + verb’ structure. Participle clauses are very useful as they create complex sentences, but are easier to use than ‘which + verb’ because they are participles (so they do not need a tense or to match a subject).
To construct a present participle clause, simply add -ing to the base form of a verb. Most of the previous examples have been changed into participle clauses below:
In the south-east, there were three docks at a fishing harbour, connected via a second road named Harbour Street, running through two areas of woodland.
The building has been extended, meaning the fire exit has been moved.
The corridor, running between the Dinosaur and Amazon rooms, leads to a fire exit.
The list below shows some participles that are commonly used for describing maps:
| leading to | A new path has been added, leading to a hotel by the beach. |
| running along/from/past/to | Three hotels will be built, running along 5th Avenue. |
| stretching along/from/past/to | By 1999, the new shopping centre had been completed, stretching from the bank to the high-school. |
| meaning (that) | The park was made into apartments, meaning there were no more green spaces in the town. |
| resulting in | Ten shops were added, resulting in a much larger commercial district. |
| changing | The gymnasium was extended on both sides, changing the structure completely. |
| replacing | There will be a new swimming pool next to the tennis courts, replacing the old outside pool. |
STEP 3: USING PHRASES
Some set phrases can help to make complex sentences that the examiners will notice. Practice the list below.
1. In order to / To do something, something else is done
2. With the exception of something, everything else is something.
3. In keeping with (the) something, something else is similar
Examples have been highlighted in the following paragraphs.
According to the second map, the Bug Room will be partitioned to make space for an Africa exhibit. The main building will be extended on the western side to include a butterfly room. In the main lobby, a third ticket office will be added, and there are plans to move the coat room to the south-east corner. A kitchen will be built in the café towards the front of the building.To improve access for disabled people, a ramp and a disabled bathroom are planned. The planetarium will remain unchanged.
According to the second map, Hassleton Road and Harbour Street will be replaced by New Hassleton Road, stretching from the north-west past a redeveloped harbour area. Three large stores will be constructed where the houses are currently located, and the largest area of woodland will be cut down to accommodate a large new hotel and a new sailing club. In keeping with the commercialisation of the area, there are plans to redevelop the docks in the south-east into a cafe. With the exception of a small dock, the original pier is likely to remain unchanged but the nearby beach and carpark will both be expanded. Ten beach huts will be erected along the coastline.
By 2016, Hassleton Road and Harbour Street had been replaced by New Hassleton Road, stretching from the north-west past the redeveloped harbour area. Three large stores were built where the houses used to be, and the largest area of woodland had been cut down to accommodate a large new hotel and a new sailing club. In keeping with the commercialisation of the area, the docks in the south-east were redeveloped into a cafe. With the exception of a small dock, the original pier remained unchanged but the nearby beach and carpark were expanded. Ten beach huts were erected along the coastline.
