W17: Bangla sentence structure in English

When we think in Bangla and write in English, our sentences carry Bangla habits. Very long sentences joined with "and" again and again. Sentences that start with "Because" and never finish. Questions inside sentences in the wrong order. The words are English, but the shape is Bangla, and examiners notice.

Why this matters

Sentence structure affects two criteria: Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Coherence and Cohesion. Run-on sentences and fragments count as errors. Very long, tangled sentences also make your ideas hard to follow.

Problem 1: Run-on sentences

A run-on joins too many ideas without proper punctuation or linking.

Wrong: "Many students go abroad for study they want better education and they also want good jobs and their parents also support them because it is good for their future."

Better: "Many students go abroad to study. They want a better education and better job prospects. In most cases, their parents support them, because they see it as an investment in their future."

Rule: one main idea per sentence, and a full stop when the idea ends.

Problem 2: Comma splices

Two full sentences joined with only a comma.

Wrong: "Pollution is increasing, the government should act."

Better: "Pollution is increasing, so the government should act." Or: "Pollution is increasing. The government should act."

Problem 3: Fragments

A sentence with no main clause.

Wrong: "Children learn languages easily. Because their brains are flexible."

Better: "Children learn languages easily because their brains are flexible."

A sentence starting with Because, Although or Which needs a main clause in the same sentence.

Problem 4: Word order in indirect questions

Wrong: "I do not know what is the main reason."

Right: "I do not know what the main reason is."

Inside a sentence, a question uses normal statement order: subject, then verb.

Problem 5: Direct translation of Bangla expressions

A simple test: read it aloud

Read each sentence aloud. If you run out of breath, it's probably too long. If it sounds incomplete, it might be a fragment. Your ear often catches what your eye misses.

How long should sentences be?

There's no fixed rule, but most clear academic sentences are between 15 and 25 words. Mix shorter and longer ones. A short sentence after a long one is powerful.

Try it yourself

Fix these sentences.

1. "Technology has many benefits, it also has drawbacks."
2. "Although online learning is flexible."
3. "Nobody knows why do people prefer cities."

1. "Technology has many benefits, but it also has drawbacks."
2. "Although online learning is flexible, it can be isolating."
3. "Nobody knows why people prefer cities."

Honest note

Thinking directly in English takes time. The best long-term fix is reading lots of well-written English (see the Reading lessons). In the short term, a final check for long sentences and fragments helps a lot.

Your task today

Take your last essay. Find your longest sentence. Split it into two or three clear sentences.