Download Simple Definition

An Introduction to
Brushstrokes
(from Image Grammar)
Core Sentence:
The dog walked across the lawn.
#1 Painting with Appositives
Simple Definition: a noun that
renames the noun before it (use
an article- the, an, a - to be sure
it is an appositive)
Example: “a mixed Lab and Collie”
New Sentence: The dog, a mixed
Lab and Collie, walked across the
lawn.
# 2 Painting with Adjectives out
of Order
Simple Definition: placing
adjectives somewhere other
than before the noun
Example: “parched and hungry”
New Sentence: The dog, parched
and hungry, walked across the
lawn.
# 3 Painting with Action Verbs
Simple Definition: Use strong
action verbs whenever possible
Example: “limped”
New Sentence: The dog, parched
and hungry, limped across the
lawn.
Practice them!
Revise the following core
sentences by adding
each of the brushstrokes
you just learned.
Core Sentence
The train came into the
station.
Appositive
The train, ______, came
into the station.
Adjectives Out of Order
The train, _____and _____,
came into the station.
Action Verbs
The train came into the
station.
Let’s hear your revisions!
Smoky and massive, the train,
a jet-black steam engine,
thundered into the station.
# 4 Painting with Prepositions
Simple Definition: a phrase with
an introductory “direction, time,
space” word
Example: “with her puppies”
New Sentence: The dog, a mixed
Lab and Collie, limped with her
puppies across the lawn.
#5 Painting with Absolutes
Simple Definition: a noun + an “-ing”
verb
Example: “Ears drooping”
New Sentence: Ears drooping, the
dog limped with her puppies across
the lawn.
# 6 Painting with
Participles/Participial Phrases
Simple Definition: “-ing” or “-ed”
form of a verb
Example: “Foaming at the mouth”
New Sentence: Foaming at the
mouth, the dog, a mixed Lab and
Collie, limped with her puppies
across the lawn.
Practice them!
Revise the following core
sentences by adding
each of the brushstrokes
you just learned.
Core Sentence
The ballerina
leaped
powerfully.
Prepositional Phrase
The ballerina
leaped
powerfully
_________.
Absolute
________,
the ballerina
leaped
powerfully.
Participle/Participial Phrase
The ballerina,
leaped
powerfully,
__________.
Let’s hear your revisions!
Smile beaming,
the ballerina
leaped
powerfully
through the air,
leaving the
audience
breathless.