Sentence Variety

March 18, 2013

WARTIN

2012002135

6D

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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 ObjectTo youIn the eveningUnder the old bridge

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Common Prepositions

about beneath into throughoutabove beside near toacross between of towardagainst by on underamongexcept onto upat for out uponbehindfrom over withbelow in through without

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Variety is the spice of lifeFor 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.

1. The nurse entered.2. The nurse quickly closed the door.3. 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, so, for, 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.

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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 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.

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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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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.

Now YOU try!

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