Sentence Variety. Vary the Beginnings of Sentences Vary Methods of Joining Ideas

Transcription

1 Sentence Variety Vary the Beginnings of Sentences Vary Methods of Joining Ideas

2 Vary the Beginnings of Sentences A prepositional phrase is a group of words containing a preposition and its object (a noun or pronoun). Preposition Object To you In the evening Under the old bridge

3 Common Prepositions about beneath into throughout above beside near to across between of toward against by on under among except onto up at for out upon behind from over with below in through without

4 Variety is the spice of life For variety in your writing, begin an occasional sentence with a prepositional phrase. 1 Charles left the room without a word. 2 Without a word, Charles left the room. 1 A fat yellow cat lay sleeping on the narrow sill. 2 On the narrow sill, a fat yellow cat lay sleeping. In your essay, find all the prepositional phrases and move one to the front of the sentence. If you don't have one, add one now. Note the slight shift in emphasis that results from beginning with a prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases that begin sentences are usually followed by commas. However, short prepositional phrases need not be.

5 Join Ideas with a Compound Predicate! A sentence with a compound predicate contains more than one verb, but the subject is not repeated before the second verb. These types of sentences are really composed of two simple sentences with one subject. 1. The nurse entered the room. 2. The nurse quickly closed the door. 3. The nurse entered the room and quickly closed the door.

6 A compound predicate is useful in combining short sentences. 1 He serves elaborate meals. 2 He never uses a recipe. 3 He serves elaborate meals yet never uses a recipe. 4 Aviators rarely get nosebleeds. 5 They often suffer from backaches. 6 Aviators rarely get nosebleeds but often suffer from backaches

7 Combine the following four pairs of short sentences into four sentences with compound predicates. Use FANBOYS 1 She loves him. 1 She cannot live without him. 2 The cat loves to watch television. 2 She sits right in front of the screen. 3 The fuchsia is a showy houseplant. 3 It droops terribly when it gets dry. 4 These statistics are very interesting. 4 They prove that your theory is true. In your essay, find a pair of sentences which you can combine with a compound predicate. If you don't have one, add one now.

8 Joining Ideas with an ing Modifier is an excellent way to combine two sentences! It is achieved by converting the verb with an ing and dropping the subject. The ing modifier is set off from the word to which it refers. An ing modifier indicates that two actions are occurring at the same time. The main idea of the sentence should be contained in the main clause, NOT in the ing modifier. 1 - He peered through the microscope. 2 - He discovered a squiggly creature. 3 Peering through the microscope, he discovered a squiggly creature. 1 We drove down Tompkins Road. 2 We were surprised by the number of for sale signs. 3 Driving down Tompkins Road, we were surprised by the number of for sale signs.

9 Let s Quiz Ourselves! Combine the following sentences using ing modifiers: 1 She performed the surgery with great skill. 2 She saved the patient s life. 1 The child pedaled furiously down the sidewalk. 2 The child ignored the big kids on their flashy ten speed bikes. 1 They conducted a survey of Jackson Heights residents. 2 They found that most opposed construction of the airport. 1 Three flares spiraled upward from the little boat. 2 - They exploded against the night sky. 1 We camped on Mount Snow. 2 We learned a lot about self-reliance. In your essay, find a pair of sentences which you can combine using an ING modifier. If you don't have one, add one now.

10 Join Ideas with a Past Participial Modifier Some sentences can be joined with a past participial modifier. A sentence that contains a to be verb and a past participial can be changed into a past participial modifier. 1 Judith is alarmed by the increase in meat prices. 2 Judith has become a vegetarian. 3 Alarmed by the increase in meat prices, Judith has become a vegetarian. The word referred to must directly follow the modifier. 1 The term paper was revised and rewritten. 2 It received an A. 3 Revised and rewritten, the term paper received an A. 1 Duffy was surprised by the interruption. 2 He lost his train of thought. 3 Surprised by the interruption, Duffy lost his train of thought.

11 Now YOU do the work. 1 My mother was married at the age of sixteen. 2 My mother never finished high school. 1 The citizens have started cleanup and consciousnessraising campaigns. 2 They are concerned about conditions in the ghetto. 1 The game will take place on Sunday. 2 It was rained out twice. 1 The manuscript is very hard to read. 2 It is written in longhand. 1 The tree is withered and yellow. 2 - It needs a thorough watering.

12 Within the body of your essay you will need to have a Past Participial Modifier. This is a list of some: Thrilled Angered Seen Honored Shocked Dressed Hidden Bent Awakened Lost Stuffed Found Examined Annoyed Pinched Rewired In your essay, find a pair of sentences which you can combine using Past Participial Modifier. If you don't have one, add one now.

13 Join Ideas with an Appositive A great way to add variety to your writing is to join ideas with an appositive. 1 Carlos is the new wrestling champion. 2 He is a native of Argentina. 3 Carlos, a native of Argentina, is the new wrestling champion. -OR- 3 A native of Argentina, Carlos is the new wrestling champion. An appositive is a word or group of words that renames or describes a noun or pronoun. A native of Argentina in #2 is an appositive. It renames Carlos. An appositive must be placed either directly after the word to which it refers or directly before it.

14 1 Naomi wants to become a fashion model. 2 She is the daughter of an actress. 3 The daughter of an actress, Naomi wants to become a fashion model. 1 F.A.C.T. made headlines for the first time in F.A.C.T. is now a powerful consumer group. 3 F.A.C.T., now a powerful consumer group, made headlines for the first time in Remember that the Appositive MUST be right next to the thing it is renaming or explaining. 1 Watch out for Smithers. 2 He is a dangerous man. 3 Watch out for Smithers, a dangerous man. 1 My uncle taught me to use water colors. 2 He is a well-known artist. 3 A well-known artist, my uncle taught me to use water colors. In your essay, find a way to include an Appositive. If you don't have one, add one now.

15 Join Ideas with a Relative Clause Relative Clauses can add sophistication to your writing. A Relative Clause begins with who, which, or that and describes a noun or pronoun. It can join two simple sentences in a longer, more complex sentence. 1 Myra just won a scholarship from the Arts Council. 2 She makes wire sculpture. 3 Myra, who makes wire sculpture, just won a scholarship from the Arts Council. Who makes wire sculpture is a Relative Clause and replaces the subject with who. Who now introduces the subordinate relative clause.

16 Let s try these together: 1 Carrots grow in cool climates. 2 They are high in vitamin A. 3 Carrots, which are high in vitamin A, grow in cool climates. 1 He finally submitted the term paper. 2 It was due six days ago. 3 He finally submitted the term paper that was due six days ago. 1 My cousin will spend the summer hiking in the Rocky Mountains. 2 She lives in Indiana. 3 My cousin, who lives in Indiana, will spend the summer hiking in the Rocky Mountains.

17 Now you do the work, and don t forget to punctuate correctly. 1 The house is for sale. 2 I was born in it. 1 My boss loves clothes. 2 They are fluid and easy to wear. 1 - He described an attitude. 2 I have experienced it. 1 Job hunting can be fun. 2 Many people dislike it. 1 Parenthood has taught me acceptance, forgiveness, and love. 2 It used to terrify me.

18 Now, combine each of the following pairs of sentences by changing one into a relative clause introduced by who, which, or that. Remember, who refers to people, that refers to people or things, and which refers to things. 1 You just won an antique pitcher. 2 It is worth two thousand dollars. 1 Professor Wong has lived all over the world. 2 He speaks six languages. 1 Leon Jarvis will appear on the Today Show. 2 He has thirty gold records. Be careful of the punctuation. In your essay, find a pair of sentences to join together using a Relative Clause. If you don't have one, add one now.

19 By now you should have... Strong Verbs 4-1 ratio of long to short Sentence beginning with an LY adverb Sentence beginning with a prepositional phrase Sentence containing a compound predicate Sentence beginning with an ING modifier Sentence beginning with a past participial modifier Sentence which contains an appositive Sentence combining ideas with a relative clause