Collins Cobuild English Grammar (213 page)

Can I
ask a question here?
Could I
just interrupt here for a minute?

Making suggestions

Can
and
could
are also used for making suggestions.

Could we
maybe develop a new payment system?
Can we
ask Network Solutions to help?

To sound more persuasive you can use a negative question.

Couldn’t we
ask them to come in for a demonstration?
Can’t we
do this later?

Let’s
…,
Why don’t we
…

You can also use
Let’s
… and
Why don’t we
… to make suggestions.

Let’s
call it a day.
Why don’t we
move on to the next point on the agenda.

Making requests

Can you
…?,
Could you
…?

You can use
Can you
… or
Could you
… to ask someone to do something.
Could
is more polite than
can
.

Can you
summarize the main points, please?
Could you
explain that again?

Would you mind
…

The phrase
Would you mind
following by the
-ing
form is also used to make polite requests.

Would you mind going
back to the previous graphic?
Would you mind just waiting
a minute while I answer that?

conditional sentences

Various conditional sentences can also be used in questions to direct a meeting in a polite way.

Would it be all right if we go over that again?
Is it okay if we leave this till later?
Do you mind if we start with a few introductions, please?
Would you mind if I investigate this a little further?

Disagreeing politely

Yes
,
but
…

If you want to disagree with someone without offending them, you can use an expression of agreement followed by
but
.

Well,
I agree but
I see it slightly differently.
I see what you mean but
I still don’t think it’s possible.
I take your point about the costs but
we could still do it.

think
,
believe

If you want to contradict somebody, or say something that other people may disagree with, you can avoid sounding rude by using a reporting verb such as
I think
… (or
I don’t think
…) or
I believe
… (or
I don’t believe
…).

I think
it’s time we stopped.
I don’t think
that’s actually the case.
I don’t believe
we committed ourselves to maintaining the price.

seem
,
appear

You can avoid sounding absolutely certain of your information by using the verbs
seem
or
appear
.

This
seems to be
the only possible solution to the problem.
It
appears that
the cost of the new system would be minimal.

The grammar of academic English

Introduction

When you write or speak in academic contexts, it is important to:

be clear about what you want to say

connect and sequence your message

establish your relationship with the reader appropriately.

The language you choose is related to the purpose of your text. This will vary according to (i) the form in which your message will be presented and (ii) your audience.

A
lecture
or
seminar
presents information and points out areas of disagreement. A lecture is often certain in tone, but it raises questions that can be explored. A seminar is an occasion where views are presented and discussed. The speaker often uses
you
and
we
.

An
essay
or
assignment
brings together and discusses information. A
dissertation
or a
journal article
investigates a topic. These texts are formal, and the tone is generally impersonal.

A
textbook
presents information for teaching and reference: it tells the reader what is known, and its tone suggests certainty.

Being clear about what you want to say: noun and verb phrases

The aim of academic speech and writing is to communicate a message precisely, and without using too many words. In order to achieve this, speakers and writers concentrate information mainly in noun and verb phrases.

Research involves investigating or analysing a subject. This means that nouns and verbs used in academic texts often relate to processes and concepts.

Nominalization

Verbs are often nominalized (= made into nouns) in order to focus the reader on a concept or idea instead of the action. For example:

The
demonstration
of brain mechanisms at work is not proof that rehabilitation has been achieved.
In 1898 Marie and Pierre Curie announced their
discovery
of a new element.
After an initial
measurement
of the patient’s blood glucose, they are given 50g of soluble lactose to drink.
They base their
assessment
of risk on available scientific evidence.
The
maintenance
of blood pressure is achieved less rapidly as we age.
Laboratory technicians can provide
assistance
when required.

The noun phrase (1): Premodifying noun phrases

Premodification allows you to concentrate a lot of information in the noun phrase. You can build the noun phrase in the following ways:

noun + noun (+ noun)

…a
food preservation process
.

adverb +
-ed
participle + noun + noun (+ noun)

…a
recently developed food preservation process
.
…
strongly motivated history students
.
…a
well-organized advertising campaign
.

-ed
adjectives