Source: time for CHANGE ...item 1.. Déjà Vu in Gaza? -- This calls to mind the words of Mark Twain: (Nov 28, 2012 / 14 Kislev 5773) ...item 2.. Cobblers, Crisps and Crumbles (Nov 29th, 2012) ..., marsmet546, Flickr
Imitation gives you ideas for building sentences with variety and interest. Two ideas we will look at in the next two sections are
- adding phrases and clauses to the structure of simple sentences, and
- combining simple sentences into compound and complex sentence structures.
We will first practice adding to sentences, and after each practice, we will try an imitation of our revised sentence. See if you can add elements to the sentences below to make a completely “loaded” sentence (i.e., a sentence containing phrases or clauses added to the beginning, middle, and end of the sentence). From each drop-down menu, select the element that fits best in each slot.
Source: Garrett Gilbert High School, Enoch Lai, Wikimedia
Let’s now practice this pattern by imitating the structure of this sentence using a different subject matter. Use your notes to write a version of the sentence below. Add some phrases to the skeleton structure so that it imitates the structural pattern of the Baby Boomer sentence. Hint: You could start with an adverbial phrase (using although), next use an appositive (after "Mario"), and a prepositional phrase (at the end of the sentence). There are countless other ways to fill out this sentence. When you are finished, check your understanding to see a sample imitation.
Mario suddenly felt happy.
Although he didn’t consider himself a good bowler, Mario, the high school’s starting quarterback, suddenly felt happy about giving bowling a try.
Source: Bike Lane, Kiril Strax, Flickr
Let’s now practice this pattern by imitating the structure of this sentence using a different subject matter. Use your notes to write a version of the sentence below. Add some phrases to the skeleton structure so that it imitates the structural pattern of the Ridley Elementary sentence. Hint: You could start with an appositive phrase before the subject (Bedford City). Also, you could include a prepositional phrase after the subject and another prepositional phrase modifying “bike lanes.” There are countless other ways to fill out this sentence. Feel free to be adventurous. When you are finished, check your understanding to see a sample imitation.
Bedford City Council has approved additional bike lanes.
One of the suburbs of Fort Worth, Bedford City, in order to protect cyclists as they ride in traffic, has approved additional bike lanes on three major roads.
Source: Wedding Guests, krystal.pritchett, Flickr
Let’s now practice this pattern by imitating the structure of this sentence using a different subject matter. Use your notes to write a version of the sentence below. Add some phrases to the skeleton structure so that it imitates the structural pattern of the DiMeglio sentence. Hint: You could start with an adverbial clause (using before). You could also add an adjectival clause after “Robert” (using who) and end with a prepositional phrase (using with). Of course, you can also think of different ways to fill out the sentence. When you are finished, check your understanding to see a sample imitation.
Robert turned off his cell phone.
Before the wedding began, Robert, who was sitting near the front, turned off his cell phone with its Led Zeppelin ringtone.
Source: Road Trip!, …K2…, Flickr
Let’s now practice this pattern by imitating the structure of this sentence using a different subject matter. Use your notes to write a version of the sentence below. Add some phrases to the skeleton structure so that it imitates the structural pattern of the Day[9]TV sentence. Hint: You could start with a participial phrase (using an -ing word). After “girls,” you could add an appositive, and at the end of the sentence, you could use a prepositional phrase (using after). When you’re finished, check your understanding to see a sample imitation.
The two girls drove down Main Avenue.
Honking the car’s horn in celebration, the two girls, seniors at the local high school, drove down Main Avenue after the football game.