hkqq  +  623439 Sat, 27 Dec 08 12:54 PM  Hi Sir/Madam, is below syntax correct? While (subordinate conjunction) major financial institutions (subject) in the world (prepositional phrase) are laying (verb) off staff (prepositional phrase), local universities (subject) are launching (verb) new business programs (object) to pump new blood (prepositional phrase) into the industry (prepositional phrase). hkqq Joined on Thu, Feb 21 2008 Hong Kong Full Member 133 Prepositions, Universities, Business, Students, Careers, Schools

	Grammar Geek  +  623442 Sat, 27 Dec 08 01:00 PM are laying off - phrasal verb staff - direct object - what's being laid off to  pump - verb new blood - object - what's being pumped. Again, does this type of analysis help you form new, correct, logical sentences on your own?   Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Pennsylvania, USA Veteran Member 18,775 Barbara, who answers in American English. Verbs, Phrasal Verbs, Direct Objects, Sentences, Animals

	hkqq  +  623466 Sat, 27 Dec 08 01:14 PM Hi Grammar Geek, Thanks for answering my question.  I think doing analysis on the sentence is helpful to improve my english.  Sentence should follow some basic rules of words order.  I am trying to broke the sentence into the basic components.  Like building a house, without good skeleton, we can't make a safe and strong house. hkqq Sentences, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Languages

	Yoong Liat  +  623747 Sat, 27 Dec 08 06:46 PM Hi Hkqq I think learning how to write correctly is more important. After you have a strong foundation in English, you can start to analyse the sentences. It's what I think. Others may disagree. Yoong Liat Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006 Singapore Veteran Member 6,473 Yoong Liat Sentences, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Languages

	Grammar Geek  +  623768 Sat, 27 Dec 08 07:25 PM I think focusing on meaning is more important. When I write something, I don't think "Oh, this would work well with the dependdent  clause lead-in, followed by the main clause that uses two prepositional phrases."   I would recommend putting your energy into writing your own simple but well constructed sentences instead of trying to analyze every word in other writers' more complex sentences.   Grammar Geek Prepositions, Clauses, Writing, Sentences

	Clive  +  623770 Sat, 27 Dec 08 07:30 PM Hi, I agree. I think GG's suggestion is well worth considering. Best wshes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 26,473 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo