I'm having trouble with these sentences. The focus is on modifers, shifts and parallel constructions. Thank you for the help.

1. We are not only what we eat but also the thoughts we think.

2. According to legend, Schopenhauer believed women were weak in body and their minds didn't have much strength either.

3. The student was encouraged to read Nietzsche from the standpoint of a moralist and as a student of sociology.

4. Topsoil, once blown away, cannot be reclaimed; virgin forests, once we cut them down, cannot be returned.

5. As we continue, I must ask you to banish your notions about Socrates from your mind, if you have any.

7. One reads for pleasure during your spare time.

8. In my library I have several old books from my grandmother in beautiful condition.

9. I was told by a priest that billions of sins live in my souls; and that humans should pray often.

10. The sun on the water was dark and mysterious; the willows lining the shore dripped gracefully in the cattails; the scene was okay, dude.

Tiffany, do the ten sentences here as best as you can, then we will critique. Teaching effectively depends on us knowing what you can do, and the types of errors you make.

Here are some websites that may help:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/modifiers.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/parallelism.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sequence.htm

=)

1. We are not what we only eat but also the thoughts we think.
2. According to legend, Schopenhauer believed women were weak in body and their minds don't have much strength compared to men.
3. The student was encouraged to read Nietzsche from the standpoint as a moralist and as a student of sociology.
4. didn't understand.
5. As we continue, I must ask you banish your notions if you have any about Socrates from your mind.
6. They read for pleasure during their spare time.
7. Marx asserted that the future lay with the masses: Nietzche said we must depend on great men for our survival.
8. didn't understand.
9. didn't understand.
10. didn't understand.

1. We are not what we only eat but also the thoughts we think.
2. According to legend, Schopenhauer believed women were weak in body and their minds don't have much strength compared to men.
3. The student was encouraged to read Nietzsche from the standpoint as a moralist and as a student of sociology.
4. didn't understand.
5. As we continue, I must ask you banish your notions if you have any about Socrates from your mind.
6. They read for pleasure during their spare time.
7. Marx asserted that the future lay with the masses: Nietzche said we must depend on great men for our survival.
8. didn't understand.
9. didn't understand.
10. didn't understand.

1. We are not what we only eat but also the thoughts we think.
2. According to legend, Schopenhauer believed women were weak in body and their minds don't have much strength compared to men.
3. The student was encouraged to read Nietzsche from the standpoint as a moralist and as a student of sociology.
4. didn't understand.
5. As we continue, I must ask you banish your notions if you have any about Socrates from your mind.
6. They read for pleasure during their spare time.
7. Marx asserted that the future lay with the masses: Nietzche said we must depend on great men for our survival.
8. didn't understand.
9. didn't understand.
10. didn't understand.

Tiffany, you are getting it!
Suggestions: # 1....the pattern is "not only........but also ...... ( as he is not only tall but handsome.)
#2. Look for the noun that the modifier "compared to men" should be near. Then use the "not only....but also...." pattern for the "body and mind"

#3 See if you can figure out the "not only....but also pattern that would work here.

#4 same pattern here.

#5 make the "if clause" a good thought and move it to the beginning of the sentence.

#6 is PERFECT.

#7 Use a semicolon to connect the two independent clauses.

#8 I would turn that into an 'active' voice sentence...My grandmother gave me...etc.

#9 " my" and "humans" don't agree; and you do not need a semicolon there.

#10 My opinion... everything if fine with that sentence until you get to the words, "okay, dude". Those words are too informal for the context.

Let us know if you need more help with this.

Here are the corrected sentences and explanations for each correction:

1. We are not only what we eat but also the thoughts we think.
Correction: No modification needed. The sentence is correct.

2. According to legend, Schopenhauer believed women were weak in body and their minds didn't have much strength either.
Correction: The sentence structure is correct. No modification needed.

3. The student was encouraged to read Nietzsche from the standpoint of a moralist and as a student of sociology.
Correction: The sentence structure is correct. No modification needed.

4. Topsoil, once blown away, cannot be reclaimed; virgin forests, once we cut them down, cannot be returned.
Correction: The sentence structure is correct. No modification needed.

5. As we continue, I must ask you to banish your notions about Socrates from your mind, if you have any.
Correction: The sentence structure is correct. No modification needed.

6. One reads for pleasure during your spare time.
Correction: Change "your" to "one's" to maintain consistency in the sentence. Revised sentence: "One reads for pleasure during one's spare time."

7. In my library I have several old books from my grandmother, in beautiful condition.
Correction: Add a comma after "grandmother" to separate the phrase "in beautiful condition" and to clarify the meaning. Revised sentence: "In my library, I have several old books from my grandmother, in beautiful condition."

8. I was told by a priest that billions of sins live in my soul and that humans should pray often.
Correction: Change "sins live in my souls" to "sins live in my soul" to ensure subject-verb agreement. Remove the semicolon as it is not necessary and replace it with "and" to connect the two independent clauses. Revised sentence: "I was told by a priest that billions of sins live in my soul and that humans should pray often."

9. The sun on the water was dark and mysterious; the willows lining the shore dripped gracefully into the cattails; the scene was okay.
Correction: Remove the word "dude" as it is too informal for the context. Revised sentence: "The sun on the water was dark and mysterious; the willows lining the shore dripped gracefully into the cattails; the scene was okay."