Wikipedia:Examples of simpler English
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This page is for examples of how to write simpler English.
Difficult English | Simpler English | Why is it simpler? |
include: 1. Some countries, including Britain and France... 2. The Nearctic Ecozone includes most of North America |
for example, in etc.: 1. Some countries, for example Britain and France... 2. Most of North America is in the Nearctic Ecozone. |
"include" is not a common word, see the lists here. |
like: Fish like cod live in... | for example: Fish, for example cod, live ... | "Like" has a lot of different meanings. It can also mean "love", "similar", and "similar to". "For example" has one meaning. |
like: Carpets are like rugs. | similar to: Carpets are similar to rugs. | "Like" has a lot of different meanings. It can also mean "love", "similar", and "for example". "Similar to" has one meaning. |
passive: 1. He is known as... 2. It is considered... 3. It is made of... 4. It is used for... 5. The name given to... 6. Planets are divided into three sorts. |
active: 1. People know him as... 2. Many / some people think it is... 3. There is ... in it 4. We use it for... 5. The name which we give to... 6. There are three sorts of planets. |
If you can use the active form, it is easier for learners. |
reduced relative clauses: 1. The man walking past the door was Bob 2. The man given the letter was Bob 3. Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation located in the eastern Caribbean Sea |
full relative clauses, or rewriting: 1. The man who was walking past the door was Bob 2. Bob got the letter. 3. Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea |
This can make confusing sentences: "The horse raced past the barn fell". It is also difficult for learners to guess what is missing. |
since, so: 1. The chalk comes out of the eraser so it can be used again. 2. Since we can use geometry to describe geometrical shapes... |
because: 1. Because the chalk comes out of the eraser, it can... 2. Because we can use geometry ... |
"Since" has another meaning: "He has lived there since 1989". "So" can have many meanings: "He washed the eraser so the chalk would come out"; "The eraser was so chalky that...". "Because" has one meaning. Learners usually learn "because" before "since" or "so". |
such a: A book with such a cover is a paperback. |
this sort: A book with this sort/type of cover is a paperback. |
In books of English as a foreign language, "such a" with this meaning comes quite late. "Such a" can also mean "very", e.g.: It's such a big book!" |
used to: John Brown used to live in London, but now he lives in York. |
In the past/Before: In the past, John Brown lived in London... Before, John Brown lived in London |
"Used to" can also mean "we use it to...": Nickel is used to make coins. "Used to" as a past form comes very late in books on English as a foreign language. |
would: As a boy, John Brown would go fishing in the river. |
past + often: When he was a boy, John Brown often went fishing... |
Learners usually know "would" as in these examples: Would you like a cup of tea? I would buy one if I had enough money. This past construction with "would" comes very late in learners' books. |