Sentence%20Variety

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Sentence Variety

• Vary the Beginnings of Sentences
• Vary Methods of Joining Ideas

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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

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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

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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.

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Join Ideas with aCompound 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.
• The nurse entered.
• The nurse quickly closed the door.
• The nurse entered and quickly closed the door.

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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.
• Now you try it! Combine the following four
  pairs of short sentences into four sentences with
  compound predicates. Use and, but, or, and yet.
• 1 She love 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.

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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 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.

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Quiz Yourself!

• Combine the following sentences using ing
  modifiers
• 1 She performed the surgery with great skill.
• 2 She saved the patients 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.

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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 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.

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Lets 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.
• Now YOU try!

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• 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.

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Now you write the sentences . . .

• Write five sentences of your own that begin with
  past participial modifiers. If you wish, use the
  words in this past participial list
• Thrilled Angered Seen Honored
• Shocked Dressed Hidden Bent
• Awakened Lost Stuffed Found
• Examined Annoyed Pinched Rewired

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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.

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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 first 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.

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Write 6 sentences using appositives

• In two sentences, place the appositive at the
  beginning
• In two sentences, place the appositive in the
  middle
• In two sentences, place the appositive at the end

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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 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.

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• Lets 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.

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Now, try these on your own and dont 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.

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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.

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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