Sentence Patterns Sentence Patterns 1 3 1 Use

Sentence Patterns

Sentence Patterns #1 -3 1. Use strong, active verbs. 2. Ask a question. 3. Use an exclamatory sentence.

#1 Strong, Active Verbs Any form of the word “be” is overused (see, just did it). Using “be” is called passive voice. Active voice involves using action verbs to show action (run, manufacture), condition (feel, sleep), or process (grow, shrink).

#1 Strong, Active Verbs Fire belched from the dragon’s mouth. The human brain does not shrink, wilt, perish, nor deteriorate with age. The problem perplexed the student.

#2 Ask a Question Sentences that ask a question are called interrogative. Sometimes writers use questions to state their central idea in a paragraph---we’re better than this! Questions most often begin with who, what, when, where, why, or how. Questions always end with a question mark (? ).

#2 Ask a Question Who settled the American colonies? When might microbes multiply? Why do clubs typically have a mission statement?

#3 Use an Exclamatory Sentence Exclamatory sentences express a strong, genuine feeling, whether it’s surprise, disgust, or joy. It ends with ONE exclamation point—adding multiple doesn’t add anything or convey more emotion. It doesn’t add any weight to a simple statement of fact. Ex. : Some dogs possess long tails, while some have short ones!

#3 Use an Exclamatory Sentence Surrender in the name of the King! I do want a donkey ride! How nice of you to come to my party!

Sentence Patterns Classwork For each sentence pattern, you must copy one (1) of my examples and write three (3) original sentences. These sentences must be COMPLETE sentences. I will take off for grammar and spelling errors. Skip a line between each pattern, not each sentence. Keep up with these because we will be using them in writing. All original sentences must be about one topic. You can change topics with sentence patterns.

Sentence Patterns #4 -6 4. Open with an adverb. 5. Open with a prepositional phrase. 6. Write a sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.

#4 Open with an Adverb An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs answer these questions: How? When? Where? Why? How much? How many? Use a comma after an adverb when you use it as a sentence opener with special emphasis. Ex. : Wisely, Helen made her course choices.

#4 Open with an Adverb Tomorrow I shall enjoy a hearty breakfast. Angrily the student leaped to his feet. Carefully and cautiously they walked through the brush.

#5 Open with a Prepositional Phrase A prepositional phrase contains a preposition and a noun/pronoun known as an object. These phrases modify nouns and verbs. Prepositions connect their objects to other words in a sentence. Prepositions describe direction (from, over), position (under, within), time (at, until), means (with, by), and relationship (except, of)

#5 Open with a Prepositional Phrase With the white flag in his hand, the soldier surrendered. Without plan or purpose, Jordan moved around the room. During the day off, Toby read.

#6 Verb Precedes the Subject Every sentence has a subject and a verb, and usually the subject comes first. Precedes=comes before

#6 Verb Precedes the Subject Along the avenue sped a brand new Corvette. Next to the hobo sat a mangy squirrel. Throughout the story appear references to the author’s childhood.

Sentence Patterns Classwork For each sentence pattern, you must copy one (1) of my examples and write three (3) original sentences. These sentences must be COMPLETE sentences. I will take off for grammar and spelling errors. Skip a line between each pattern, not each sentence. Keep up with these because we will be using them in writing. All original sentences must be about one topic. You can change topics with sentence patterns.

Sentence Patterns #7 -12 7. Use conversation or a quotation. 8. Use an appositive. 9. Open with an adverb clause. 10. Use parallel structure. 11. Open with an adjective. 12. Open with adjective phrase.

#7 Use Conversation or a Quotation Indent like you would a new paragraph whenever a new speaker begins. Punctuation goes INSIDE quotation marks.

#7 Use Conversation or a Quotation “Anthony, ” the teacher smiled, “you have a wonderfully active imagination. ” One of Canada’s greatest prime ministers, Mackenzie King, summed up the dilemma when he said, “If other countries have too much history, we have too much geography. ”

#8 Use an Appositives are nouns/pronouns following another noun/pronoun that give more information about it. An appositive is NOT a prepositional phrase. Use commas to set them apart from the rest of the sentence. Ex. Ginger, my first dog, only had three legs. Don’t use commas if the only information in the appositive is one name.

#8 Use an Appositive My mother, a polite and generous woman, gave me excellent advice. Our capital city Nashville is located in Middle Tennessee.

#9 Open with an Adverb Clause An adverb (adverbial) clause has a subject and a predicate, but cannot stand alone as its own sentence. Common adverb clause beginners: after, although, as, because, before, if, in order that, since, so, though, unless, until, when, where, while Use a comma after the adverb phrase when it opens the sentence.

#9 Open with an Adverb Clause Because he reads faster, he finishes before I do. Whenever Georgia forgets her tutu, Donna performs the solo dance.

#10 Use Parallel Structure When you have multiple words, phrases, and clauses in a series, make the grammatical elements the same in each item. Ex. The chihuahua barked at his shadow, chomped on his finger, and scurried away.

#10 Use Parallel Structure The strict professor demanded that we write in permanent marker, use only yellow paper, and stay within the margins. You may go by air, you may travel by auto, or you may sail by cruise ship.

Sentence Patterns Classwork For each sentence pattern, you must copy one (1) of my examples and write two (2) original sentences. These sentences must be COMPLETE sentences. I will take off for grammar and spelling errors. Skip a line between each pattern, not each sentence. Keep up with these because we will be using them in writing. All original sentences must be about one topic. You can change topics with sentence patterns.

#11 Open with an Adjective An adjective modifies a noun/pronoun or another adjective. Adjectives answer these questions: What kind? Which one? How many/much? Whose? Normally adjectives precede the noun they modify. When placed at the beginning of the sentence, they get special emphasis with a comma (always).

#11 Open with an Adjective Fearful, the hunter fled through the jungle. Furious, Gary slammed his door and screamed like a girl.

#12 Open with an Adjective Phrase Adjective phrases consist of adjectives plus a group of words without a subject and a verb. This group of words is often a prepositional phrase. Adjective phrases also end with a comma.

#12 Open with an Adjective Phrase Passionate on the subject of elephant ears, he spoke for over an hour. Confident in his ability and in possession of his favorite yoyo, Bob could amaze any crowd with his tricks.

Sentence Patterns Classwork For each sentence pattern, you must copy one (1) of my examples and write three (3) original sentences. These sentences must be COMPLETE sentences. I will take off for grammar and spelling errors. Skip a line between each pattern, not each sentence. Keep up with these because we will be using them in writing. All original sentences must be about one topic. You can change topics with sentence patterns.

Sentence Patterns #13 -17 13. Open with a present infinitive. 14. Open with a perfect infinitive. 15. Open with a present participle. 16. Open with a past participle. 17. Open with a perfect participle.

#13 Open with a Present Infinitive An infinitive is a verbal—a half-verb, halfpreposition that acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb. The preposition “to” + 1 present tense verb = infinitive Ex. To + improve = to improve Commas follow long infinitive phrases at the beginning of a sentence.

#13 Open with a Present Infinitive To learn the whip was Eugene’s primary goal. To make a long story short, the dog devoured my project.

#14 Open with a Perfect Infinitive To + have + past tense verb = perfect infinitive Ex. To have frolicked

#14 Open with a Perfect Infinitive To have won the lottery, I would have needed a lottery ticket. To have murdered that man, the criminal would have had to have been a nine-foot tall gorilla.

Sentence Patterns Classwork For each sentence pattern, you must copy one (1) of my examples and write three (3) original sentences. These sentences must be COMPLETE sentences. I will take off for grammar and spelling errors. Skip a line between each pattern, not each sentence. Keep up with these because we will be using them in writing. All original sentences must be about one topic. You can change topics with sentence patterns.

#15 Open with a Present Participle A participle is another type of verbal. It is halfverb, half-adjective. Present Participle = the ing form of the verb Swimming, burping, lying Present participial phrases are only formed by: Combining with an adverb Combining with a prepositional phrase Taking an object Use a comma after the participle/participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence.

#15 Open with a Present Participle Walking quietly into the den, I saw my father and the cat dozing on the sofa. Dying of stab wounds, Caesar muttered, “Et tu, Brute? ” Drying my hair, I noticed I was going bald.

#16 Open with a Past Participle A past participle is still a verb acting like an adjective. It is the past form of the verb Ex. Bought, Ventured Past participial phrases are only formed by combining with: An adverb A prepositional phrase

#16 Open with a Past Participle Satisfied immensely, the villian retired to his lair. Exhausted from the swim meet, Freddy came home and slept for four days.

#17 Open with a Perfect Participle = having + past tense verb Perfect participial phrases are only formed by: Combining with an adverb Combining with a prepositional phrase Taking an object

#17 Open with a Perfect Participle Having shrieked loudly, the kindergartener alerted the playground of the presence of cooties. Having come from the Mexican restaurant, Charlie smelled like salsa. Having purchased a new swimsuit, Mel was prepared for her trip to Hawaii.

Sentence Patterns Classwork For each sentence pattern, you must copy one (1) of my examples and write three (3) original sentences. These sentences must be COMPLETE sentences. I will take off for grammar and spelling errors. Skip a line between each pattern, not each sentence. Keep up with these because we will be using them in writing. All original sentences must be about one topic. You can change topics with sentence patterns.