Question

Direction : The sentences below sound too strong because they are opinions rather than facts. Soften these six sentences by adding less definite verbs. Write your new sentence on the space being provided.

Learning a language makes students more open-minded. (-)

Answer 1

To soften the original strong opinion statement, use less definite verbs such as 'may help' to indicate possibility. A revised version could be: 'Learning a language may help students become more open-minded.'

Step-by-step explanation:

To soften the sentence 'Learning a language makes students more open-minded,' you can add a less definite verb to suggest possibility rather than certainty. A revised version could be: 'Learning a language may help students become more open-minded.' This adjustment changes the tone from a definitive statement to a more tentative one, which is less forceful and recognizes that the outcome can vary among individuals.

Effective sentence editing often involves choosing active-voice verbs and cutting extraneous words to create clear and concise statements. Sentences should be direct and informative without unnecessary filler. By doing so, sentences gain vitality and readers can easily grasp the intended message. Remember, the use of phrases like 'there is' and 'it is' often lead to a more passive and wordy construction which weakens the impact of the sentence.