以下是短文写作中使用率最高、覆盖面最广的基本句式，每组句式的功能相同或相似，可根据自己的情况选择其中的1－2个，做到能够熟练正确地仿写或套用。  
 
　　1．表示原因
　　1）There are three reasons for this．
　　2）The reasons for this are as follows．
　　3）The reason for this is obvious．
　　4）The reason for this is not far to seek．
　　5）The reason for this is that．．．
　　6）We have good reason to believe that．．．
　　例如：There are three reasons for the changes that have taken place in our life．Firstly，people’s living standard has been greatly improved．Secondly，most people are well paid，and they can afford what they need or like．Last but not least，more and more people prefer to enjoy modern life．
　　注：如写第一个句子没有把握，可将其改写成两个句子。如：Great changes have taken place in our life．There are three reasons for this．这样写可以避免套用中的表达失误。
　　2．表示好处
　　1）It has the following advantages．
　　2）It does us a lot of good．
　　3）It benefits us quite a lot．
　　4）It is beneficial to us．
　　5）It is of great benefit to us．
　　例如：Books are like friends．They can help us know the world better，and they can open our minds and widen our horizons．Therefore，reading extensively is of great benefit to us．
　　3．表示坏处
　　1）It has more disadvantages than advantages．
　　2）It does us much harm．
　　3）It is harmful to us．
　　例如：However，everything divides into two．Television can also be harmful to us．It can do harm to our health and make us lazy if we spend too much time watching television．
　　4．表示重要、必要、困难、方便、可能
　　1）It is important（necessary，difficult，convenient，possible）for sb．to do sth．
　　2）We think it necessary to do sth．
　　3）It plays an important role in our life．
　　例如：Computers are now being used everywhere，whether in the government，in schools or in business．Soon，computers will be found in every home，too．We have good reason to say that computers are playing an increasingly important role in our life and we have stepped into the Computer Age．
　　5．表示措施
　　1）We should take some effective measures．
　　2）We should try our best to overcome（conquer）the difficulties．
　　3）We should do our utmost in doing sth．
　　4）We should solve the problems that we are confronted（faced）with．
　　例如：The housing problem that we are confronted with is becoming more and more serious．Therefore，we must take some effective measures to solve it．
　　6．表示变化
　　1）Some changes have taken place in the past five years．
　　2）A great change will certainly be produced in the world’s communications．
　　3）The computer has brought about many changes in education．
　　例如：Some changes have taken place in people’s diet in the past five years．The major reasons for these changes are not far to seek．Nowadays，more and more people are switching from grain to meat for protein，and from fruit and vegetable to milk for vitamins．