Download Sentence Variety

Sentence Variety
Vary the Beginnings of Sentences
Vary Methods of Joining Ideas
Vary the Beginnings of Sentences
A prepositional phrase is a group of words containing
a preposition and its object (a noun or pronoun).
Preposition
To
In
Under
From
Between
Object
you
the evening
the old bridge
the start
the two options
Common Prepositions
about
above
across
against
among
at
behind
below
beneath
beside
between
by
except
for
from
in
into
near
of
on
onto
out
over
through
throughout
to
toward
under
up
upon
with
without
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.
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. Two or more prepositional
phrases REQUIRE a comma.
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.
2. The nurse quickly closed the door.
3. The nurse entered and quickly closed the
door.
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
Sentences 1 and 2 are combined by yet and no
comma proceeds yet.
Sentences 4 and 5 are joined by but and no comma
proceeds but.
Compound Predicate Assignment (HW)
Combine the following four pairs of short sentences into
four sentences with compound predicates. Use and,
but, or, and yet.
1 – She loves him. 2 – She cannot live without him.
3 – The cat loves to watch television. 4 – She sits right in
front of the screen.
5 – The fuchsia is a showy houseplant. 6 – It droops terribly
when it gets dry.
7 – These statistics are very interesting. 8 – They prove that
your theory is true.
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 is known as a participle.
• 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 to 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.
-ing Modifiers Assignment (HW)
Combine the following sentences using –ing modifiers. You may have to
change the order of the clauses.
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.
Join Ideas with a Past Participial Modifier
Some sentences can be joined with a past participial modifier. A
past participle is still a verb acting as an adjective; however,
instead of an –ing ending, the verb will have an –ed ending.
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 sentence has been made into a past participial modifier by
dropping the helping verb is and the subject Judith. The past
participial alarmed now introduces the new sentence.
A comma sets off the past participial modifier from the word it
modifies, Judith. In order to avoid confusion, the word referred
to must directly follow the modifier.
Let’s look at some more . . .
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.
Past Participle Assignment (HW)
Combine the following sentences using past participle modifiers
1 – My mother was married at the age of sixteen.
2 – My mother never finished high school.
1 – The citizens have started cleanup and consciousness-raising
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.
Past Participle Assignment Cont. (HW)
Write five sentences of your own that begin
with past participial modifiers. If you wish, use
the words in this past participial list:
Thrilled
Shocked
Awakened
Examined
Angered
Dressed
Lost
Annoyed
Seen
Hidden
Stuffed
Pinched
Honored
Bent
Found
Rewired
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.
-OR3 – 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.
Here are some more . . .
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 – FACT made headlines for the first time in 1981.
2 – FACT is now a powerful consumer group.
3 – FACT, now a powerful consumer group, made headlines for the first time
in 1981.
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.
Appositive Assignment (HW)
• In two sentences, place an appositive at the
beginning
• In two sentences, place an appositive in the
middle
• In two sentences, place an appositive at the
end
Join Ideas with a Relative Clause
Relative Clauses can add sophistication to your writing.
A Relative Clause begins with who, whose, whom,
which, or that and describes a noun or pronoun. It
can join two simple sentences in a longer, more
complex sentence.
1 – Jack just won a scholarship from the Arts Council.
2 – He makes wire sculpture.
3 – Jack, 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.
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.
Relative Clauses Assignment (HW)
Combine the following sentences using relative clauses, and don’t
forget to punctuate them 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.
Relative Clause Assignment cont. (HW)
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. Be careful of the punctuation. Hint:
which clauses are usually set off by commas and that clauses
are usually not.
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.
HOMEWORK!
Write several paragraphs about a school
subject that you enjoy.
Use at least one of the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Relative Clause
Appositive
Past Participial Modifier
ING Modifier
Compound Predicate
Prepositional Phrase