Grammar for Academic English
Academic writing relies on precise grammar for relative clauses, formal recommendations, and comparisons. This chapter reviews the structures most common in essays and research summaries. Each point can be practiced one sentence at a time.
Relative Clauses
Non-defining clauses set off by commas use 'which' for things and 'who' for people: 'The findings, which were published last year, ...'. 'That' cannot introduce a non-defining clause.
The Subjunctive in Formal Writing
After verbs like 'recommend', 'suggest', and 'require' plus 'that', the base form is used: 'recommend that the sample be selected at random.' The verb stays uninflected.
Comparative Structures and Participles
The 'the more..., the more...' pattern needs a comparative in both halves: 'the more data, the more confident'. Perfect participles use 'having' plus a past participle: 'having run the experiment.'