1. Exercise on subject and verb choice
In this exercise, you will compare the subjects and verbs in two versions of a passage.
First, to get a general impression of each passage, you will read them once through, and comment on how easy they are to understand.
Next, we will compare the subjects.
Then, we will compare the verbs.

2. Version One
Read the text on the following slide. Try to read it straight through, without going over any phrases or sentences more than once – but take note if you feel the need to re-read any passage.
After reading, write down your impressions: How clear was the text? Can you relate the meaning after one reading?

3. Version One
As for highway construction projects, new railways face a challenge during the design phase: defining the alignment (the route). This task requires taking into account numerous factors, some of which often conflict. Mountains, rivers, built-up areas, valuable farm land, archaeological sites, protected areas - these are only some of the obstacles that can be in the way when attempting to link the cities or locations to serve. To avoid such areas as much as possible, alignments would often require steep grades (slopes) and tight curves, which would reduce allowable speed and increase fuel consumption, and in turn increase travel times and operating costs. Route lengths can be shortened by building tunnels, but in this case construction costs are likely to be higher. Providing good passenger services by bringing the railway in or close to major cities often requires going through farmed land and built-up areas. Overall, each railway alignment is a compromise between many objectives. A good design will reduce the adverse impacts of the railway on the population and the environment, while limiting construction and operating costs and providing an adequate level of service.

4. Version Two
Read the text on the following slide. Again, try to read it straight through, without going over any phrases or sentences more than once – but take note if you feel the need to re-read any passage.
After reading, write down your impressions: How clear was the text? Can you relate the meaning after one reading?
Which version did you find easier to read?

5. Version Two
Railway designers face a manifold challenge: defining the route. This task involves several, often conflicting, choices. Ideally, a route would be straight and flat. In reality, mountains, rivers, built-up areas, valuable farm land, archaeological sites, protected areas, and other obstacles stand in the way. To avoid such obstacles, routes may have to include steep grades and tight curves; those reduce the allowable speed and increase fuel consumption, travel times, and operating costs. Sometimes, route lengths can be shortened by building tunnels, but building a tunnel raises the cost. Designers face a challenge even in determining the railway stops. Passengers want convenient railway stations in or close to major cities, yet no one wants a railway running through their backyard. Ultimately, designers must compromise to balance conflicting objectives – reducing adverse impacts of the railway on the population and the environment, limiting construction and operating costs, and providing an adequate level of service. The question then becomes “what shall be compromised?”

6. The subjects here are in blue.
As for highway construction projects, new railways face a challenge during the design phase: defining the alignment (the route). This task requires taking into account numerous factors, some of which often conflict. Mountains, rivers, built-up areas, valuable farm land, archaeological sites, protected areas - these are only some of the obstacles that can be in the way when attempting to link the cities or locations to serve. To avoid such areas as much as possible, alignments would often require steep grades (slopes) and tight curves, which would reduce allowable speed and increase fuel consumption, and in turn increase travel times and operating costs. Route lengths can be shortened by building tunnels, but in this case construction costs are likely to be higher. Providing good passenger services by bringing the railway in or close to major cities often requires going through farmed land and built-up areas. Overall, each railway alignment is a compromise between many objectives. A good design will reduce the adverse impacts of the railway on the population and the environment, while limiting construction and operating costs and providing an adequate level of service.

7. The subjects here are in blue.
Railway designers face a manifold challenge: planning the route. This task involves several, often conflicting, objectives. Ideally, a route would be straight and flat. In reality, mountains, rivers, built-up areas, valuable farm land, archaeological sites, protected areas, and other obstacles stand in the way. To avoid such obstacles, routes may have to include steep grades and tight curves; those reduce the allowable speed and increase fuel consumption, travel times, and operating costs. Sometimes, route lengths can be shortened by building tunnels, but building a tunnel raises the cost. Designers face a challenge even in determining the railway stops. Passengers want convenient railway stations in or close to major cities, yet no one wants a railway running through their backyard. Ultimately, designers must compromise to balance conflicting objectives – reducing adverse impacts of the railway on the population and the environment, limiting construction and operating costs, and providing an adequate level of service. The question then becomes “what shall be compromised?”

8. Compare the subjects. new railways This task Railway designers
Mountains, rivers, built-up areas, valuable farm land, archaeological sites, protected areas – these
alignments
which
Route lengths
Providing good passenger services by bringing the railway in or close to major cities
each railway alignment
A good design
Railway designers
This task
a route
mountains, rivers, built-up areas, valuable farm land, archaeological sites, protected areas, and other obstacles
those
route lengths
Designers
Passengers
no one
The question

9. The verbs here are in red.
As for highway construction projects, new railways face a challenge during the design phase: defining the alignment (the route). This task requires taking into account numerous factors, some of which often conflict. Mountains, rivers, built-up areas, valuable farm land, archaeological sites, protected areas - these are only some of the obstacles that can be in the way when attempting to link the cities or locations to serve. To avoid such areas as much as possible, alignments would often require steep grades (slopes) and tight curves, which would reduce allowable speed and increase fuel consumption, and in turn increase travel times and operating costs. Route lengths can be shortened by building tunnels, but in this case construction costs are likely to be higher. Providing good passenger services by bringing the railway in or close to major cities often requires going through farmed land and built-up areas. Overall, each railway alignment is a compromise between many objectives. A good design will reduce the adverse impacts of the railway on the population and the environment, while limiting construction and operating costs and providing an adequate level of service.
12 verbs. BE 4x. Require 3x. Reduce 2x.

10. The verbs here are in red.
Railway designers face a manifold challenge: defining the route. This task involves several, often conflicting, choices. Ideally, a route would be straight and flat. In reality, mountains, rivers, built-up areas, valuable farm land, archaeological sites, protected areas, and other obstacles stand in the way. To avoid such obstacles, routes may have to include steep grades and tight curves; those reduce the allowable speed and increase fuel consumption, travel times, and operating costs. Sometimes, route lengths can be shortened by building tunnels, but building a tunnel raises the cost. Designers face a challenge even in determining the railway stops. Passengers want convenient railway stations in or close to major cities, yet no one wants a railway running through their backyard. Ultimately, designers must compromise to balance conflicting objectives – reducing adverse impacts of the railway on the population and the environment, limiting construction and operating costs, and providing an adequate level of service. The question then becomes “what shall be compromised?”
42 verbs. BE 1x. Want and compromise 2 x each.

11. face requires are be required reduce increase shortened is
Compare the verbs.
face
requires
are be
required
reduce
increase
shortened is
face
involves be
stand
include
reduce
increase
shortened
raises
want
compromise
becomes

12. The stressed phrases are in green.
As for highway construction projects, new railways face a challenge during the design phase: defining the alignment (the route). This task requires taking into account numerous factors, some of which often conflict. Mountains, rivers, built-up areas, valuable farm land, archaeological sites, protected areas - these are only some of the obstacles that can be in the way when attempting to link the cities or locations to serve. To avoid such areas as much as possible, alignments would often require steep grades (slopes) and tight curves, which would reduce allowable speed and increase fuel consumption, and in turn increase travel times and operating costs. Route lengths can be shortened by building tunnels, but in this case construction costs are likely to be higher. Providing good passenger services by bringing the railway in or close to major cities often requires going through farmed land and built-up areas. Overall, each railway alignment is a compromise between many objectives. A good design will reduce the adverse impacts of the railway on the population and the environment, while limiting construction and operating costs and providing an adequate level of service.

13. The stressed phrases are in green.
Railway designers face a manifold challenge: planning the route. This task involves several, often conflicting, objectives. Ideally, a route would be straight and flat. In reality, mountains, rivers, built-up areas, valuable farm land, archaeological sites, protected areas, and other obstacles stand in the way. To avoid such obstacles, routes may have to include steep grades and tight curves; those reduce the allowable speed and increase fuel consumption, travel times, and operating costs. Sometimes, route lengths can be shortened by building tunnels, but building a tunnel raises the cost. Designers face a challenge even in determining the railway stops. Passengers want convenient railway stations in or close to major cities, yet no one wants a railway running through their backyard. Ultimately, designers must compromise to balance conflicting objectives – reducing adverse impacts of the railway on the population and the environment, limiting construction and operating costs, and providing an adequate level of service. The question then becomes “what shall be compromised?”

14. Compare the stressed phrases.
defining the alignment (the route)
often conflict
attempting to link the cities or locations to serve
increase travel times and operating costs
likely to be higher
requires going through farmed land and built-up areas
a compromise between many objectives
limiting construction and operating costs and providing an adequate level of service
planning the route
straight and flat
obstacles stand in the way
reduce the allowable speed and increase fuel consumption, travel times, and operating costs
a tunnel raises the cost
determining the railway stops
a railway running through their backyard
reducing adverse impacts of the railway on the population and the environment, limiting construction and operating costs, and providing an adequate level of service
“what shall be compromised?”

15. Points to remember as you write
Your subjects should include real actors or agents
Your verbs should be varied – watch out for an overuse of BE (a common problem and an indicator of inferior writing)
Your choice of subjects and verbs largely creates the clarity of your writing (or the lack thereof)
The subject should present known – not new – information
Be mindful of what you put in the stress position – the end of the sentence
Two other points (which are not problems in these texts): the main noun of the subject should be (1) clear and (2) close to the verb